Darlington County Historical Commission & Museum

(Available in the Doris G. Gandy Research Room)

Our library consists of over 11,000 family history, genealogical, regional and local history books and journals. The collection is the combined effort of the Old Darlington District Chapter, SCGS, Three Rivers Genealogical Society, and the Historical Commission.  The combined collection is housed at the Darlington County Historical Commission & Museum (204 Hewitt Street, Darlington, SC). The collection has extensive volumes of information on Darlington County, the ten counties of the Pee Dee Region, as well as all areas of South Carolina. In addition, there are substantial genealogical and historical resources regarding Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. Significant shelf space is devoted to African Americans, Native Americans, Huguenots, and the Scot – Irish. A portion of the collection relates to American conflicts and wars from the Revolutionary War through the 20th century.

We ae blessed with a book collection that is unsurpassed in northeastern South Carolina.

This collection is non-circulating, but may be used at no charge by visiting the Darlington County Historical Commission & Museum, Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

The library collection also consists of microfilm and microfiche. This portion of the collection is rich in newspapers, church records, and public records from the Pee Dee area of SC and border NC counties.

(Available in the Doris G. Gandy Research Room)

Abstract of Judgments (Index) 1 – 9446 circa 1800 – 1894
Account Books
Administrator
Appeals 1872-1921
Charters 1875-1920
Citizenship Records 1873-1912
Congressional Record Books
Coroner’s Inquest 1905-1986
Court of Common Pleas Calendars 1870-1895
Court of Common Pleas Journals 1806-1886
Darlington City Docket Books
Deed Abstracts (OLD)
Deed Books A-Z, AA-UU, A2-U2, 1-6
Defendant’s vs Plaintiffs 1895 – 1920
Distribution of State Pension Fund – 1916 – 1973
Dockets – CP & GS 1821-1934
Equity Books
Equity Cases 1 – 624 (Contains deeds and Wills)
Equity CED Report Books 1 – 11, 1805 – 1841
Equity Records 1805-1871
Guardian Books 1887-1914
Index to Abstracts of Judgments (New and Old Series)
Inventory & Sales Books
Inventory Books
Jail bond books
Judgment Indexes (Old Judgments 60 – 9446 & New Judgments 1 – 10180).
Judgment Rolls 1807-1941
Magistrate Civil Dockets 1871-1889
Marriage License 1911 – 1922 (White – 4 volumes) and Colored – 5 volumes
Order and Decrees 1806-1868
Oversized Boxes of Wills & Equity
Plaintiffs' vs Defendants 1895 – 1920
Plat Book 1 (oldest), 1-13
Probate Records (A1–A1613 before Civil War) through (B1-B5918 after Civil War) 1791-1925
Record Books
Registration Books 1928 – 1952
Senate Documents 
Sessions Records & Index 1806-1898
Sheriffs Record Books
Statues of South Carolina Books
Supreme Court Records
Treasury Reports
Warrants
Wills
Will Books 1791-1925

(Available in the Doris G. Gandy Research Room)

Family Name Files A-Z. These files on Old Darlington District family names contain obits, group sheets, pictures, bible information, copies of wills, cemetery inventories, census data, pamphlets, and booklets.

Pedigree Charts

Family Bibles

Family Photo Collections (Available inhouse)

Published Genealogies – over 1300 volumes

(Available in the Doris G. Gandy Research Room)

Bays
Blueprints – (surrounding towns, businesses, residences, and landscape)
Bridges
Grants (Royal and State grants)
Lakes
Maps
Mortgage A – Z (From family papers donated to Commission)
Navigation
Plantations
Plats
Ponds
Reconstruction Neighborhoods
Rivers
Roads
Surveys
Waterways

(Available in the Doris G. Gandy Research Room)

Carolina Gazette: 1839 (5/14) 

County Messenger (Darlington County): 1898 (5/5, 6/8, 12/2, 12/23), 1900 (1/18, 4/19, 5/17, 11/29), 1901 (4/11, 4/18, 5/16, 7/11), 1902 (9/4), 1903 (2/5, 4/16), 1904 (1/21, 7/14), 1905 (1/12, 1/19, 6/15, 7/20, 1906 (1/25, 5/10, 7/12), 1907 (4/25) 

Daily Index (Darlington County): 1896 (6/29, 7/9, 7/22) 

Daily Record (Darlington County): 1896 (9/9) 

Daily Observer (Darlington County): 1912 (7/26-31, 8/5-7, 8/9-10, 8/13, 8/15-17, 8/19-26, 8/30-31, 9/5, 9/10-11, 9/13, 9/17-18)

The Darlington County Tribune: 1972 (8/21) – 1978 (9/21) 

Darlington Democrat: 1869 (10/13, 27, 11/3, 10, 17, 24, 12/1, 8, 15, 22, 29), 1870 (1/5, 12, 19, 26, 2/2, 9, 16, 23, 3/9, 16, 23, 30, 4/6, 20, 27, 5/4, 11, 18, 25, 6/1, 8, 15, 21, 29, 7/6, 13, 20, 27) 

Darlington Flag: 1851 (3/12, 7/16, 11/27, 12/11), 1852 (9/7, 11/11), 1853 (10/20), 1855 (6/21, 8/20, 11/1), 1856  (4/27  , 3/12, 4/30, 7/16, 10/22, 29, 11/5, 12, 19, 26, 12/3, 10, 17, 24, 31), 1857 (1/7, 14, 21, 28, 2/4, 11, 18, 25, 3/4, 11, 18, 25, 4/4, 8, 15, 22, 29), 1860 (2/15, 12/13), 

Darlington Herald: 1890 (7/16, 7/30, 8/13-12/10), 1891 (2/11 – 12/30), 1892 (6/6 – 12/28), 1893 (1/4 – 11/10), 1894 2/7 – 11/2) 

Darlington News: 1880 (January – 5/6), 1881, 1882  (1/26, 5/25,  6/1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 7/6, 20, 27,  8/10, 17, 24, 31, 9/7, 14, 21, 28, 10/5, 12, 18, 26, 11/9, 16, 23, 30), 1883 (4/1, 3/10, 10/18), 1884 (2/28, 4/17, 5/8), 1885 (4/19, 4/26, 12/3, 12/31), 1886, 1887 (2/10, 3/31, 4/14, 5/5,   6/23, 30,  7/28, 9/22, 10/6, 27, 11/17, 12/1), 1888 – 1893, 1894 (9/20, 11/8, 12/13), 1895 (3/14, 21, 28, 4/4, 11, 18, 25, 5/2, 16, 7/4, 11, 8/15, 22, 9/19, 11/28, 12/5, 12, 19, 26 ), 1896, 1897 (2/25, 5/13, 11/25), 1989 – 1901, 1902 (4/10, 17, 24, 5/22, 6/19, 7/10, 24), 1903 – 1907, 1908 ( 1/2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 2/5, 13, 20, 27, 3/5, 12, 19,  4/2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 5/ 7, 14, 21, 28,  6/4, 11, 18, 25,   7/2) 

Darlington Southerner: 1861 (3/13, 5/1), 1862 (6/13, 9/5, 11/7), 1863 (3/13, 4/3), 1864 (3/25, 10/21, 10/28), 1865 (4/10, 8/4, 8/11, 8/25, 9/1, 9/22, 9/26, 10/19), 1866 (8/17, 10/26, 11/3), 1870 (6/3), 1871 (10/13, 11/24), 1873 (12/19), 1874 (9/3, 11/17, 12/4), 1880 (5/7), 1881 (1/14, 2/18, 2/25, 6/10, 7/29), 1884 (7/9) 

Darlington Vindicator: 1884 (7/9), 

Darlingtonian: 1895 (7/24, 8/21, 9/18-10/2, 10:16, 30, 12/4), 1896 (1/15, 5/6, 6/10, 7/15-22, 9/2-23, 10/7, 11/2), 1897 (5/14, 6/18, 8/20-27, 9/17, 10/8, 10/29-11/12, 12/3), 1898 (1/5, 1/19), 1899 (2/2, 4/20), 1901 (10/11)

Family Friend (Darlington County): 1857 (5/27, 12/30), 1887 (12/15), 1889 (6/14), 

Hartsville Messenger (Darlington County): 1893 (9/9, 10/18), 1895 (6/5, 8/29), 1896 (5/21, 6/18, 6/25, 7/2, 7/16, 7/23), 1897 (11/11, 12/2, 12/23), 1908 (1/30, 2/6, 27,   3/5, 12, 26,  4/2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 5/7, 28, 6/4, 10/22,   11/26, 12/17), 1909 (1/21, 28, 2/11, 18, 3/4, 11, 18, 25, 4/1, 15, 29, 5/6, 13, 6/3, 17, 24, 7/8, 22, 29,   8/12, 19, 9/2, 9, 16, 23, 10/28, 11/11, 18, 25, 12/2, 9, 23), 1910 (Missing issues Listed) 2/17, 5/3, 8/25, 9/22, 12/1, 12/15 ), 1911 (Missing issues Listed) · 1/5, 3/2, 5/23, 6/8), 1912 (1/11, 2/1, 8, 22, 3/14, 21, 28, 4/4, 11, 18, 5/2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 6/6, 13, 20, 27, 7/4, 11, 18, 25, 8/1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 9/5, 12, 19, 26, 10/3, 10, 17, 24, 11/21, 28, 12/19, 26), 1913 (1/9, 16, 23, 30, 2/6, 13, 20, 27, 3/6, 13, 20, 27, 4/3, 10, 17, 24, 5/8, 15, 22, 29, 6/5, 12, 19, 26, 7/3, 23, 31, 8/7, 14, 21, 28, 9/4, 11, 18, 25, 10/2, 9, 16, 11/13, 20, 27, 12/11), 1914 (1/8, 15, 22, 29, 2/5, 12, 19, 26, 3/5, 19, 4/2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 5/7, 14, 21, 28, 6/4, 11, 8, 25, 7/2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 8/6, 13, 20, 9/10, 17, 24, 10/1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 11/5, 12, 19, 26, 12/3, 10, 17, 24, 31), 1915 (2/4, 11, 3/11, 25, 4/8, 15, 22, 29, 5/6, 13, 20, 27, 6/10, 17, 24, 7/1, 8, 15, 29, 8/5, 12, 19, 26, 9/2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 10/7, 14, 21, 28, 11/4, 11, 18, 25, 12/2, 9, 23, 30), 1916 (1/6, 20, 27,   2/3, 10, 17, 24, 3/2, 16, 23, 4/6, 13, 20, 27, 5/4, 11, 18, 25, 6/1, 8, 15, 22, 7/20, 8/3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 9/21, 28, 10/5, 12, 19, 26, 11/2, 9, 16, 23, 12/7, 14, 21, 28 ), 1917 1918 (3/7, 3/14), 1919 (1/23, 8/14), 1920 (9/9), 1921 (1/27, 7/14, 8/11, 10/6), 1927 (3/31), 1928 (4/19), 1931 (11/26), 1944 (8/31), 1950 – present 

Lamar Sentinel (Darlington County): 1922 (11/9), 

New Era (Darlington County): 1865 (7/18, 25, 8/1, 8, 9/26   10/3, 17, 12/ 5), 1866 (1/23) , 1904 (1/20), 1905 (8/21, 12/14), 1906 (5/31) 

News & Press (Darlington County): 1909 ( 1/14, 21, 28, 2/4, 11, 3/11, 18,   4/1, 8, 22,  9/9, 12/9 ), 1910 (3/10, 17,   9/1, 8, 22, 11/10, 24, 12/1, 15, 29), 1911 (1/12, 19, 2/2, 3/30,  4/27, 5/18, 6/1, 8, 15, 22, 29,  7/6, 13,20, 27,   8/3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 9/7, 14, 21, 28,  10/5, 12, 19, 26,   11/2, 9, 23, 30,  12/14), 1912 ( 1/11, 18, 15,   2/1, 22,  4/1,   5/2, 9, 30,  6/6, 13, 20, 27,   9/3, 6, 10, 19, 26,  10/3, 17, 24, 31, 11/7,   12/12, 19), 1913 (5/22, 29,  6/5, 12, 19, 26,   7/3, 10, 17, 24, 31,  8/7, 14, 21, 28,   9/4, 11, 18, 25,  10/2, 9, 16, 23, 30,   11/6, 13, 20, 27,  12/4, 11, 18, 25), 1914 – Present 

Pee Dee Times: 11/1988 – 12/1989

Pee Dee Watchman (Darlington County): 1877 (9/13, 10/4, 10/25 – 11/2) 

Reformed Sentinel (Darlington County): 1894 (1/18) 

Society Hill News (Darlington County): 1910 (9/23) 

Southern Temperance Advocate: 1848 (10/5) 

 Southerner (Darlington County): 1860 (10/2, 11/6) 

Timmonsville Times (Florence County): 1954 (January) – 1956 (December) 

Tribune (Darlington County): 1972 (August) – 1978 (September)

(Available in the Doris G. Gandy Research Room)

DECADE FILES 

Acts of the Legislature relating to Darlington County

Almanacs, SC circa 1820 – 1840 listing all county elected officials and Militia officers.

Business Directories, 20th Century

Chronological files c. 1785 – 1987

WPA Projects relating to Darlington County

EDUCATION

Annuals

Class Rolls

Coker College – Chronological files contain Annuals, brochures and clippings.

Pay Vouchers

Report Cards

School Directories

School Documents

School Records

School Census

Superintendents

Teachers

INDUSTRY 

A – Z files on local industry in Darlington County, and contains business correspondence, ledger, annual reports, newsletter bulletins from various industries like Sonoco and Nucor.

MERCHANTS 

A – Z files on merchants of Old Darlington District. Folders contain letters, originals or copies of invoices, letterheads, handbills, ledgers, journals and account books.

Hotels

Hospitals

Drugstores

Newspapers

Tobacco Warehouses

Banks

Savings & Loans

MILITARY – CIVIL WAR 

Hospitals

Joseph Matheson Civil War Files

Muster Rolls – Copies of Muster Rolls on or around Jan. 1, 1862, for each company formed in Darlington District, each filed in separate folder in which any other data on company is also included, such as company histories.

Sherman’s March – Folders containing reminiscences of numerous persons who remembered Sherman’s passing through Darlington District. Also a copy of the book “Sherman’s March” a review by: William Light Kinney, Jr.

Soldiers – A – Z of individual soldiers

Soldiers’ Board of Reliefs 

Stockade

MILITARY – FT. PRINCE GEORGE 

Soldier Records – Photocopies from Archives of every company of men from Darlington area who served in this war.

MILITARY – KORIAN WAR 

Soldiers – Complete file of “The Darlington Report” a newsletter mailed to Darlington soldiers.

MILITARY – MEXICAN WAR

Muster Rolls – No companies were formed in Darlington; men from these areas went to Sumter to enlist in Captain Francis Sumter’s Company. There is a photo copies from the State Archives in this file.

Soldiers – Files on several men who served, including Matthew B. Stanley, Who published a pamphlet on his experience, which is included. Also, an original letter mailed by Samuel Williamson from Vera Cruz.

MILITARY – REVOLUTIARY WAR

Pension – This is a folder containing typewritten copies of Pension Declarations of all Veterans. Copies of these are made for files of each veteran mentioned, and usually three or more are named in each.

Soldiers – Alphabetical files on each Darlington County resident who had involvement in the fighting.

Tories – One folder on Dr. W. H. Mills, leading Loyalist of the area, containing printed accounts and copies of original papers from Pro. London

MILITARY – SEMINOLE WAR

Muster Rolls – Photo static copy of Muster Roll of one company from Darlington.

MILITARY – S.C. MILITIA

A-Z files with folders for every known Militia Unit in the District.

Company Charters

Darlington Guard

Militia Meetings

Muster Rolls

MILITARY – SPANISH AMERICAN WAR

Miscellaneous folder containing copy of S.C. participation in this war & other papers.

MILITARY – WAR OF 1812 

Muster Rolls – Copies of one Muster Roll of each of the three companies that went in Federal Service from Darlington District.

MILITARY – WORLD WAR I

American Legion Service Officers and American Red Cross relative to soldiers claims for relief, 1918 – 1935.

Soldiers – Alphabetical files A – Z containing letters from soldiers in service and miscellaneous clipping and some original military papers and orders.

MILITARY – WORLD WAR II

Chronicles – A soldier’s newsletter published in Darlington 1942 – 1945.

Florence Air Base – File (incomplete) of “Windsock” published by soldiers at the base.

Prisoner of War Camp – Folder contains miscellaneous data on POW Camp at Florence Air Base.

Rationing – Miscellaneous papers of Lamar, S.C. Ration Board 1942 –1945.

Scrapbooks containing Letters and photos of Florence men in service, arranged alphabetically under the branch of service.

Selective Service – Files of original letters and papers belonging to a member of the Darlington Draft Board from 1942 –1945.

Soldiers – Alphabetical files A – Z containing soldiers’ letters and newspaper clippings. 

MURDERS

A-Z files cross-index of murders committed by white persons – using name of victim and killer. Mostly before 1930. Occasionally, a newspaper account of the killing is included.

POLITICAL

County Officials – A – Z folders on every county officer from Auditor to Tax Assessor.

Democratic Party – Folders containing clipping on party activities since c. 1876. Also some correspondence files of 20th Century County Committee men.

Elections (County) – A folder for nearly every county election held since 1792; contains election returns from S.C. Archives and local newspapers; original ballots and campaign literature.

Election (Municipal) – Separate files for city elections in each of county Towns. Some contains original ballots and voter registration lists.

Public Buildings – Files on Courthouse and jail, etc. Miscellaneous papers on each building. We have the original “Jail Book” of prisoners the 1930’s.

Registration Lists – Lists of voters in various Precincts and Townships 1876 – 1896 from S.C. Archives and private records. Computer printout of voters, 1970.

Republican Party – Folders containing clipping on party activities and some correspondence files of county committee men.

POPULATION

Census Population Schedules 1790 – 1920 (except 1890). Microprint copies.

Population schedules for all towns in county from c1860 –1980.

RELIGION 

Baptist Churches – A – Z folders on every Baptist Church in Darlington County organized by 1960.

Baptist Association & Unions – Chronological files of Minutes of Charleston Association c.1750 – 1830 and Welsh Neck Association 1831 – date

Episcopal Churches – Same type material found in Baptist and Methodist schedules.

Episcopal Diocese – A few old printed Minutes of Diocese of South Carolina.

Methodist Churches – A – Z folders on every known Methodist Church in Darlington County organized by 1960.

Methodist Conference – Originals and copies of Minutes of South Carolina Conference c.1840 – 1970.

Methodist Districts & Circuits – Contains originals and photocopy of Journal from Districts and Circuits throughout the county.

Ministers – A – Z folders on Ministers who have served in Darlington District without regard to denomination. Includes clippings, letters, publications by minutes, obits, etc. Also one pulpit Bible and sermon notes.

Miscellaneous – Miscellaneous files on churches of denominations other than Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, or Episcopal.

Presbyterian Churches – Same material as outlined in Baptist and Methodist Schedules.

Presbytery – A few copies of Annual Minutes of Harmony and Pee Dee Presbytery.

SOCIETIES & Clubs

A – Z folders on every society club or lodge known to have existed here in Darlington County. Contains newspaper clippings, copies of Charter, original personal certificates of UDC and DAR, Yearbooks and Minute Books.

TOWNS AND VILLAGES

Alphabetically arranged folders for every village or neighborhood no matter how insignificant. Contains wealth of material gleaned from newspapers which had weekly columns from each community. Folders also contain maps, brochures, city directories, & telephone directories.

Department and Police Department; chronological schedules of Mayors and Councilmen and their terms of office.

Town Council Minute Books

TRANSPORTATION

Airplanes – One small folder with newspaper clippings about early flights in this area.

Automobiles – Miscellaneous data on autos, including 1905 – 1910 Registration books found in Courthouse.

Boats – These are filed under “Navigation”.

Bridges – A – Z folders for every known Bridge in Darlington County. Folders include petitions and charters for bridges from old S.C. Archives files now dismembered, old maps, etc.

Railroads – A – Z. folders on every railroad operating in the district. Folders include Charters, Time-tables, Stock Certificates, annual reports, Newspaper clippings, Bill of Lading, and Freight Bills.

Roads – Folders for road names. Includes petitions for opening of roads found in S. C. Archives Road files now dismembered.

Stages – One folder with miscellaneous items including Stage schedules and reminiscences, etc.

VITAL STATISTICS

Bastardy Bonds – Folder containing bonds for bastard children.

Births – One old book of Births kept by City Officials c.1898 found in the old Courthouse.

Deaths – Photocopy of U. S. Census of Deaths for 1850 and 1860 found at S.C. Archives.

Deeds for Children – One folder containing photocopies of all such deed found in the Courthouse.

Divorces – One folder with copies of several items including a “Marriage Contract Revoked”, c.1807.

Golden Weddings – One folder with several such items from 1870’s.

Interracial Marriage – One folder with several accounts of such events.

Longevity – One folder with several items in it.

Marriages – A – Z file on marriages containing verbatim copies of marriage announcements from area newspapers .1850 – c.1900 filed under man and woman’s name. Marriage from Pugh Diary c.1761 – 1803 also included.

Marriage Bonds – Photocopies of every Bond found in Courthouse books, c.1810 – 1899. Filed by man’s name only.