South Carolina Department of Archives and History

The South Carolina Department of Archives and History is an independent state agency whose mission is to preserve and promote the documentary and cultural heritage of the Palmetto State. The department houses one of the most comprehensive state archival collections in the nation, spanning more than 325 years of South Carolina history.  

Please browse around our site to discover more information about us. As always, we thank you for your support of our agency and the archives and history of our state!

The Research Room will be closed Thursday, November 26 through Saturday, November 28, 2020 in observance of the Thanksgiving Day holiday. 

The Research Room at the South Carolina Department of Archives and History will re-open to the public on Wednesday, July 15, 2020.  On that day, we will resume our regular Research Room hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.  Before visiting please read the COVID-19 safety guidelines for visitors to our building.  If you have any questions about our re-opening, please call our Research Room desk at 803-896-6104 or 803-896-6105.