Genealogical Resources for Orangeburg, South Carolina
Bibliographies
The OGSGS Bibliography a list of reference books pertaining to Orangeburg Genealogy.
The Swiss Genealogy Bibliography - a list of reference books on Swiss Genealogy.
DNA
The Orangeburgh District DNA Project includes DNA studies related to descendants of persons who lived in the old Orangeburgh District in South Carolina (modern counties of Orangeburg, Lexington, Calhoun, Barnwell, Bamberg and parts of Aiken and Allendale).
Official Records
The SC Department of Archives and History
holds the vast majority of early Orangeburg official records. Besides official records, holdings
include general South Carolina histories, histories
of specific periods, state wide genealogical compilations, and so forth. There is a facility
for ordering document copies online (if you know the specific citation). Useful online resources include
an Online Index to many of their holdings and a set of maps
tracing the Formation of Counties in South
Carolina from 1682 to the present.
Probate records of South Carolina were kept by the secretary of the
province prior to 1732, and were later kept by the courts of ordinary and
probate courts of each county. Major South Carolina courts that kept records
of genealogical value included Court of Chancery which handled land and inheritance
matters for the entire colony. The chancery court records were later known
as equity records. Some of these early court cases are on file at the University
of South Carolina Law Library in Columbia.
Pre-Civil War files for Orangeburg, Beaufort, Chesterfield, Colleton,
Georgetown, and Lancaster districts were destroyed. However, there remains
an abundance of official information available prior to 1865. And, many of
the land records destroyed were reconstructed in subsequent deeds and remain
on file at the Orangeburg County Courthouse.
Probate records from 1865 are on file in the Orangeburg County Courthouse. A "General
Index to Probate Court 1865 - 1947, Orangeburg County Courthouse" by Janice F. Rickenbaker was
published in serial form in OGSGS Newsletter Volumes: 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. A reprint of
the complete index is available. See Publications.
The state of South Carolina required marriage licenses beginning in 1911
and birth and death certificates beginning in 1915. For information see the
S. C. DHEC web site.
South Carolina Death Indexes 1915-1953 are available online from DHEC.
Un-Official Records
Most archives, historical societies, and genealogical societies have
special collections and indexes of genealogical value. These must usually
be searched in person. Some of the best manuscript collections for the Orangeburg
area are in:
The A. S. Salley Archives, Orangeburg County Historical Society, Middleton and Bull Streets, Orangeburg, SC
MAILING ADDRESS: PO Box 1881, Orangeburg, SC 29116-1881
HOURS: Tuesday, 9 am to 12 noon; Wednesday, 9 am to 3 pm; or by appointment.
CONTACT: Ms. Evelyn T. Weathersbee, Director; 803-535-0022.
CONTENTS: Materials relating to Orangeburg County, including maps, plats, genealogical research,
private manuscripts, church and cemetery records, photographs, the A. S. Salley, Jr., work papers
collection, and a general history file of news clippings. The OCHS also publish a number
of Cemetery Books covering
Orangeburg County.
The Calhoun County Museum, 313 Butler St, St Matthews SC 29135.
HOURS: Tuesday - Friday, 9 am to 4 pm.
EMAIL: calmus@oburg.net
CONTENTS: An archives collection, a research room, period costumes, period furniture, Indian exhibits,
and historic items from Calhoun County. Archives research by appointment only.
The Orangeburg County Library, 510 Louis Street, Orangeburg,SC 29115.
HOURS: Monday, Tuesday, 10 am to 9 pm; Wednesday - Friday 10 am to 6 pm; Saturday 9 am to 5 pm.
CONTENTS: Numerous family histories and other manuscripst related to Orangeburg genealogy. On-line card catalog.
The South Carolina Historical Society, 100 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29402.
HOURS: Monday-Friday, 9 am to 4 pm; Saturday, 9 am to 2 pm.
EMAIL: info@schistory.org
CONTENTS: an extensive collection of rare manuscripts, books, letters, maps, journals and periodicals relevant to SC
history. On-line card catalog.
The South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina, 910 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208.
HOURS: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM. TO 5:00 PM; Saturday, 9:00 AM TO 1:00 PM
EMAIL: cuthrell@webmail.sc.edu
CONTENTS: The home of the "Giessendanner Record". Holdings include letters, diaries, and other personal papers; records of businesses,
churchs, and other organizations; and broadsides and other ephemera reflecting political,
commercial, and leisure activities. On-line card catalog.
Web Resources
The Book of Record, Orangeburg, SC (1738-1761), Joop Giesendanner, Holland.
CONTENTS: New transcription and translation of the "Giessendanner Record", with copies of the original. An essential companion to
"The History of Orangeburg, South Carolina ...".
The SC GenWeb Project, provides various resources for researchers. The county
sites: Bamberg, Calhoun,
Lexington, and Orangeburg are of special
interest as these counties were all part of Orangeburgh District at one time.
Swiss Roots, A web site sponsored by the Consulate General of Switzerland, New York
CONTENTS: The online Genealogy Resources include: 1) Swiss Family Name Handbook, the only online list of Swiss Family names and their Villages of origin.
2) A PDF copy of Faust's "Lists of Swiss Emigrants to the American Coloniesd" (currently out of print). 3) A PDF index to the Billeter Collection,
the compilation by Julius Billeter of data on some 3,000 Swiss families.
06-17-08
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