Q. How can I research my South Carolina ancestors?

Richland Library can help you research your Columbia or South Carolina ancestors. There is a collection local books, newspaper clippings, historic directories and more in the Walker Local and Family History Center located on the first level of Richland Library Main. Local newspapers are available on microfilm at the Main library. Richland Library card holders can access historic issues of The State newspaper online through South Carolina Historical Newspapers. 

If you have a Richland Library card, you can access Heritage Quest from home. If you are not from our area, your local public library may also have some of these resources for free with your local card, check your library's website.

Begin by looking for records about your family in these databases such as records from the US Census, state death records, city directories, and other resources located in these databases. Try starting with someone in your family who was alive in the 1930s and going back from there. Save records you find to your computer and take good notes! Record full names, dates of birth and death, places born, lived and died, marriages, etc. There are computer programs you can use to help you create a family tree.

Obituaries can be helpful in family history research. Richland Library can provide copies of obituaries from local newspapers. Search our obituary index to see if we have an obituary or death notice for your ancestor in our newspaper collections. You can order a copy of an obituary from the Request an Obituary form on the bottom of the Services page of our website.

Also, check out the Local History Digital Collection, which contains a collection of Columbia City Directories, and other unique local resources. This is freely available to anyone, no card required.

And finally, check out the Dead Librarian blog with links to several online South Carolina genealogical resources.

You can call the Walker Local & Family History Center for help at 803-929-3402. Good luck!