South Carolina Department of Archives and History

South Carolina Department of Archives and History Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Government Organization, 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC.
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The mission of the Department of Archives and History is to preserve and promote the documentary and cultural heritage of South Carolina through archival care and preservation, records management, public access, historic preservation, and education.

The SC Department of Archives and History is recruiting for an African American History Consultant.  The position is par...
08/28/2026

The SC Department of Archives and History is recruiting for an African American History Consultant.

The position is part of the State Historic Preservation Office and serves as the agencyโ€™s liaison to the South Carolina African American Heritage Commission, which has the charge to identify and promote the preservation of historic sites, structures, buildings, and culture of the African American experience in South Carolina.

The ideal candidate will have experience in historical research, public history, and program management; and have the interpersonal skills to thrive in a collaborative setting.

Celebrating more than 120 years of serving the people of South Carolina, the SC Department of Archives and Historyโ€™s mission is to preserve and promote the documentary and cultural heritage of the Palmetto State through the Archives, Records Management program, and State Historic Preservation Office.

This position is eligible for generous benefits offered by the State of South Carolina including health and dental insurance, retirement and savings plan options, as well as paid vacation and sick leave.

Link to full job description: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sc/jobs/5462588/african-american-history-consultant?department[0]=Department%20of%20Archives%20and%20History&sort=PositionTitle%7CAscending&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

Political philosopher, John Locke was born this month in 1632!  Locke served as the personal secretary for Anthony Ashle...
08/28/2026

Political philosopher, John Locke was born this month in 1632!

Locke served as the personal secretary for Anthony Ashley Cooper, the leader of the Lords Proprietor of Carolina. Locke and Cooper wrote the Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina in 1669, which were intended to be the first constitution of Carolina and featured religious freedom for colonists. Historians believe that SCDAH houses the oldest surviving copy of the Fundamental Constitutions.

๐Ÿ“œ (2-3): S131003, Articles of agreement between the Lords Proprietors, a 1674 agreement between the Lords Proprietor that was also signed by Locke from our collections.

Although the Treaty of Paris ending the continents-spanning Seven Years War was signed on February 10, 1763, the news on...
08/27/2026

Although the Treaty of Paris ending the continents-spanning Seven Years War was signed on February 10, 1763, the news only reached South Carolina .

Governor Thomas Boone made a proclamation in Charles Town to announce the war had ended.

๐Ÿ“ฐ: ๐˜š๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ ๐˜Š๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ข ๐˜Ž๐˜ข๐˜ป๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜ต๐˜ฆ, August 27, 1763 (P 900040)

Did you know Dolly Parton's mother was born in South Carolina? Avie Lee Owens was born on October 5, 1923 in Lockhart. H...
08/26/2026

Did you know Dolly Parton's mother was born in South Carolina?

Avie Lee Owens was born on October 5, 1923 in Lockhart. Here is her application for a delayed birth certificate from our collections (S169267).

On this day in 1812, Percival Drayton was born in Charleston. His older brother, Thomas F. Drayton, was born four years ...
08/25/2026

On this day in 1812, Percival Drayton was born in Charleston. His older brother, Thomas F. Drayton, was born four years earlier on August 24.

The two brothers fought against each other in the Civil War, meeting at the Battle of Port Royal. Percival, a Union Commander, captained the ๐˜œ๐˜š๐˜š ๐˜—๐˜ฐ๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ด, and Thomas, a Confederate Brigadier General, commanded the defenses of Port Royal. The Union forces were ultimately successful in their attack.

๐Ÿ“ธ (1): Percival and Thomas F. Drayton
๐Ÿ“œ (2): S165018, Resolutions of the General Assembly, Box 5, ND-1234, calling Percival Drayton and others traitors for serving the United States.
๐Ÿ“œ(3): Report on the Battle of Port Royal by Thomas F. Drayton in ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜Š๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜”๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ค๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜บ, February 13, 1862.

New publication alert! ๐Ÿšจ๐Ÿ“– Now available from South Carolina Department of Archives and History Publications: ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜‘๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ญ...
08/20/2026

New publication alert! ๐Ÿšจ๐Ÿ“–

Now available from South Carolina Department of Archives and History Publications: ๐˜›๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜‘๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜™๐˜ฆ๐˜ฑ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ด, 1794โ€“1795.

This is the first volume we've published in the long-running State Records of South Carolina Series since 1988. Edited by SCDAH Historian, D. Andrew Johnson, these journals cover an array of topics under discussion by the House of Representatives as South Carolinians grappled with the recent founding of the new nation.

Available in a limited-run hardback edition. Purchase at our gift shop or through our online store. For questions, email [email protected]

Get your copy before they're all gone!

๐Ÿ”— Link to purchase online: https://sc.accessgov.com/sc-archives-and-history/Forms/Page/sc-archives-and-history/d3122736-bfaa-4efa-b2f9-d9c627db2a9e/f628b37f-28a4-4336-9f9c-12b1d7d5621d/1

Congratulations to all the winners of the 2026 South Carolina Awards in the Humanities! We were delighted to learn that ...
08/19/2026

Congratulations to all the winners of the 2026 South Carolina Awards in the Humanities! We were delighted to learn that one of our commissioners, Brent Morris, was among the Governor's Award winners this year. With A.V. Huff, Jr. and Beryl Dakers, he is one of three current members of the SC Commission of Archives and History who have received this honor.

On this day 250 years ago, Andrew Pickens led a scout team of about 25 men to the west of the main army during the exped...
08/12/2026

On this day 250 years ago, Andrew Pickens led a scout team of about 25 men to the west of the main army during the expedition against the Cherokees.

Within two miles of the army's camp, near the Cherokee town of Tamassee, they were ambushed in what has become known as the "Ring Fight." Forming a ring, Pickens and his men fought off a superior force of Cherokee warriors long enough for another force, led by Joseph Pickens, to come to their aid. After the battle, Andrew Pickens had Tamassee burned.

Years later, in 1802, Pickens purchased land near the battle and town and made it his retirement home.

๐Ÿ—บ: A map of the 1776 South Carolina campaign against the Cherokees, from John Drayton, ๐˜”๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฐ๐˜ช๐˜ณ๐˜ด ๐˜ฐ๐˜ง ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ˆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ด ๐˜™๐˜ฆ๐˜ท๐˜ฐ๐˜ญ๐˜ถ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ, vol. II (Charleston, 1820). Notice "Tomassy Tn" just to the east of "Occonnee Mt."

08/12/2026

The Advocacy for Archives Award is one of CoSAโ€™s longest-standing and most significant recognitions. It honors an individual or organization that has made a substantial and sustained contribution to promoting, preserving, and ensuring the accessibility of government archives at the state, territorial, or local level.

https://statearchivists.org/advocacy-for-archives-award/

This year, there are two recipients of the Advocacy for Archives Award. South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster has a long history of public service with a consistent through-line of steadfast support for the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. His understanding of the importance of government archives goes beyond mere words; in nominating Governor McMaster for this honor, the South Carolina Department of Archives and History shared numerous examples of financial, operational, and administrative support for the Department and for government records more broadly.

Address

8301 Parklane Road
Columbia, SC
29223

Opening Hours

Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm
Saturday 8:30am - 12pm
1pm - 5pm

Telephone

+18038960339

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