Manuscripts
Manuscript materials form the bulk of our holdings. This collection includes the papers of thousands of individuals and families, as well as the records of numerous organizations, businesses, and churches. These are unique items that cannot be found elsewhere and provide valuable insight into all aspects of the history of South Carolina.

Our manuscript collection does not include original public or civic documents, such as vital records, tax data, military records, or court records. Such documents are the property of civic bodies such as city, county, and state governments. Some public records are represented in our collection, however, in the form of printed copies, microfilm copies, or transcriptions.