First, bookmark or print out these FHL document: South Carolina Research Outline (oddly this doesn't show availablity of a PDF copy on this page, but one is available... to open that, go to the "S" page of "Research Helps" and scroll down to South Carolina -- on the far right of the row that names "Research Ouline" is a link to the PDF). You will also want to bookmark or print out the South Carolina Historical Background and South Carolina Statewide Indexes.
Use the catalog at the FHL to find out what has been filmed covering jurisdictions in the state South Carolina ; Click View Related Places in the upper right to find sources that have been filmed for the county you are researching and once there click View Related Places in the upper right to find sources that have been filmed for the township or city. You will want to check for resources in all three jurisdictions, although most people check the county holdings first, township next and state last.
Maps
Bookmark or print out this map of South Carolina counties.
For links to many more maps, see the SCIway site with links to SC State Historical Maps and More SC Historical Maps, which offers maps by county, historical period and related resources. County formation and census maps are can be found at mysouthcarolinagenealogy.com
See what is available at the South Carolina Gen Web pages, The ALHN South Carolina page and AHGP South Carolina page.
Look at the websites of these libraries. archives and societies
The South Carolina Archives & History Center has a substantial amount of material online. In addition to a listing of South Carolina resources, Vital Records at the SC Archives, Confederate Records at the Archives and Census Records at the SC Archives, they also offer a searchable index to a variety of resources. Note: this search engine searches for the string of letters...so if I search ORME, I get Dormer, Mormen... etc. To avoid some of this, put a spaceafter the last letter of your search term.
South Carolina is served by the National Archives Southeast Region, which is housed in Atlanta, Georgia.
The University of Carolina South Caroliniana Library has an extensive collection of books and manuscripts covering South Carolina history. The genealogist is probably going to be most interested in exploring their manuscripts division and books division.
Membership in the South Carolina Genealogical Society is through membership in one of the chapters. The site is a little tricky... click on the black rectangular box in the upper left hand corner of the screen to get a drop down list of the various pages. See also the South Carolina Geenalogy Society Directory.
Newspapers:
Discover what has been filmed by the South Carolina Newspaper project. These newspapers are held by the University of South Carolina Library and you can find them in the catalog of that library. Once you've identified the newspaper you want to see, inquire at your local library to see if they can get it for you on interlibrary loan.
ESCN is indexing early South Carolina newspapers and issuing the indexes as Reports. Newspapers indexed were all published prior to 1783. Some reports are sorted by occupation and other topical matters, but there is also a surname report. Their website provides you with a listing of surnames indexed and a list of some libraries that hold their reports.
Obituary Lookup Volunteers: South Carolina
Cemeteries:
Interment.net South Carolina
Tombstone Inscription Project: South Carolina
Cemetery Junction: South Carolina
Census work is always an early step. An indexed transcript of the 1880 census is on line at FamilySearch.org (note you have to select the 1880 U.S. census from the dropdown box.) Find more at Censusfinder.com: List of South Carolina census records online. See also: access to census records for general information on obtaining census records.
South Carolina has some state census records for the years 1829, 1839, 1868, 1869 and 1875. Here is an overview of what is available for this state.
Vital Records
To get information about vital records, check the South Carolina DHEC Vital Records Service (official page) or the Vitalrec South Carolina Page
Find burials at Interment.net's South Carolina Cemetery page. See what's been done and in progress at the Tombstone Transcription Project - South Carolina
If your immigrant ancestor went to South Carolina, you may want to look for an early passenger list.
Don't overlook your South Carolina Black Sheep Ancestors
Queries and Lookups
To get help from others, see if offers at the South Carolina Page of Randam Acts of Genealogical Kindness or the Directory of Volunteers: South Carolina might be useful t o you.
Also, post a query in the appropriate South Carolina county folder at the Rootsweb/Ancestry or at the Genealogy.com South Carolina Genealogy Forum
More links
South Carolina History and Genealogy Resources
-- and don't overlook their pagesof links for each county
Genealinks: Illinois Genealogy
Access Genealogy List of South Carolina Links
Cyndi's List South Carolina Page
Linkpendium's South Carolina Page
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