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| Addlestone Library, College of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina ©Cheri Hudson Passey |
Located on the third floor of the College of Charleston's Addlestone Library, is the South Carolina Historical Society Archives.
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| Special Collections & South Carolina Historical Society Archives |
The Special collection and Archives Department is a treasure!
What types of records can you find?
Books, pamphlets, vertical files, manuscripts, photos, and artifacts.
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| Journals held at within the special collections at the South Carolina Historical Society Archives |
The website has a search tool to help to prepare for a visit. Search in the catalog for your topic, name, or place or look through the list of vertical files.
Archive information:
Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
Address: 205 Calhoon St., Room 351, Charleston, SC 29401
Email:library@schonline.org
Website:https://schistory.org/archives/
Metered parallel parking is available along the side streets and parking garages are a few blocks away.
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| Entrance to the Special Collections and Archives ©Cheri Hudson Passey |
Once in the library, stairs to the right or an elevator found in the rear can be used to take you to the third floor. The doors to the Archives stay locked but when the staff sees you waiting to come in they will buzz the door open. If it's your first time there, you will be asked to sign in. pl
Tables are available to place a laptop, notebooks but you will have to use a free locker to place purses or other bags. You may keep your phone or other scanners with you.
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| Archival Box of Family Papers ©Cheri Hudson Passey |
If you have prepared ahead of time, simply fill out the request form or forms found at the front desk with the file number of the records you need and hand it to a member of the staff. They will retrieve the file or box for you and bring it to the front. It will either be placed on the cart or if not much is going on, bring it to you at your table. You will be asked to only use pencils to fill out the form or when taking notes. This is to stop accidental marking of the records and other materials, Pencils can be found on the front desk.
If you need to access the catalog once there, wifi is available to search from your computer or use the one provided within the archives.
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| Inside the Archives ©Cheri Hudson Passey |
Once you have the items you have requested, and enjoy! Remember to keep a log of what you've requested. Take a photo or scan the unopened file, any papers, documents, or photos inside you need, and then the back of the file. Why the front and the back? It helps you to "bookend" where one file starts and another begins. It also serves as a way to help you remember where you found each item and craft a source citation. Do the same with books and file boxes.
Make sure you take the time when you return home to go back over all the things you discovered on your research trip! Transcribe, analyze, and input the data into your tree.
Did your visit help you to answer a research question? What do you need to do next?
Special collections like those found at the South Carolina Historical Society Archives are repositories for unique records found nowhere else.
Have you taken advantage of this or other special collections? What have you found?
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Helping you climb your family tree,
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