Resources for Documenting African-Americans in South Carolina

Beaufort County
The New South (1862-1866) Printed in Port Royal and later Beaufort, SC. Covers the period just before slavery ended and the beginning of Reconstruction. Images can be read online.

Greenville County
Greenville County Library System Obituary Index 1916 through 1993.

Columbia, South Carolina
The Richland County Public Library has The Palmetto Leader on microfilm. The Palmetto Leader was an African-American newspaper. It contains articles submitted by individuals and churches from many counties across the state. Only the obituaries have been indexed and the index is available online.

Obituary Index This database contains obituary and death notice information from the Columbia, SC newspapers:

1. The State (1892-1928, 1940,1950-1955,1958-1979) 2. The Palmetto Leader (1925-1928, 1930, January-April 1931); Columbia's foremost African-American paper

3. Obituary Index to The State for World War II servicemen killed in action (1941-1949)

Click here to access the index: Obituary Index

How to Find Obituaries in The State,  Columbia Record  and  Palmetto Leader 

 The Palmetto Leader  on microfilm covers more years than are actually indexed. It is a valuable source for those who had ancestors who attended Allen University, Benedict, and those who had ancestors who were active in AME, AME Zion, or Baptist churches. Even information about social engagements and relatives visiting from the North was documented.

Proven Strategy:
Select a time period for which your ancestor lived. Search the microfilmed record of The Palmetto Leader or local newspaper covering the lifespan of your ancestor. Look for birth marriage and death notices. Read all the articles which were generated in the county where your ancestor lived. Read the articles which give information about the church and schools your ancestor attended.