History of the Clarendon County Archives

The Clarendon County Archives and History Center is housed in the "Old Manning Library." Built in 1910 probably by the same architects who designed the Clarendon County Courthouse, the building was erected with donations by Manning citizens. The children of Moses and Hannah Levi donated $1,000, in memory of their mother Hannah and the rest of the money was raised by the Civic League raised through bazaars and other fund raisers.
 
 

Although quite new for Clarendon County, the Archives has already accumulated a great deal of Clarendon County lore and their files are steadily growing. They are actively on the lookout for more information, photographs, and memorabilia which pertain to Clarendon County. The Archives is located at 211 North Brooks Street 29102 in Manning.


Check the official Clarendon County Archives homepage for an updated schedule of the days and times that they are open.

You may email the Archives at: [email protected]

The phone number is: 803- 435-0328
 

The Archives is in the process of collecting the histories of all of the churches in Clarendon County. Currently the archives holds books on First Baptist Church of Manning, Church of the Holy Cross, and on Manning United Methodist Church.

At the present time, the Archives has a collection of over 500 books. The oldest are the collection of books covering the Revolutionary records for South Carolina. Also available for research are The Official Records of the War of the Rebellion which is a collection of 75 books containing Civil War records.

Mr. Norman McFaddin has donated many books of Clarendon County genealogical interest to the Archives, including one in particular with a listing of all WWI and WWII veterans from Clarendon County.

The Archives also has books on the cemeteries located within in Clarendon County which were covered with water when Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie were flooded.

Thanks to Mr. Maynard Davis, the Clarendon County Archives and History Center now has a photocopy of the microfilm of Will Book #1 for Clarendon County. Its dates range from 1875 - 1896. These are probably the first wills recorded in with the county after the burning of the courthouse in 1865. Families that have copies of wills in their homes from before or during that period are asked to bring them into the archives for preservation or at least duplication because there is probably no other copy.

 

Family Books in the Stacks of the

Clarendon County Archives and History Center

(Some are published books and some are individually complied family notebooks)

Alderman's In America by W. M. Alderman Parker
About Alfords
Allred Family in America by R. C. Allred
Descendants & Family of John William Ardis by Barbara Ardis Coker
Avins - The Family History of James R. Avins
Bagnal Clan Cookbook by the Bagnal Family
Beatson Family by Grover Beatson, Sr.
Royals Lines & Blanding Letters by A. L. Blanding
A Bradham Family History & Genealogy by Janet Bradham Brewster
The Brailsford Family in SC by A. M. Brailsford, Jr.
Mark Brewster of Hull, England & Allied Families by Marcus V. Brewster
Collection of Burgess Manuscripts compiled by James M. Sprott, Jr.
The Burgesses of Ireland by Norman J. McFaddin
Cantey by Norman J. McFaddin
Descendants of Teige Cantey by James M. Sprott, Jr.  
 The Coker's of Puddin' Swamp by Mary Frances Heriot Coker
Collins - Royal Ancestors of Magna Charta Baron by Carr P. Collins, Jr.
Records of Several Families (Davis, Dickey, Lenoir, McClary, etc) compiled by Martha McClary Sparks
The DuBose Connection from Isaac Dubose by James M. Sprott, Jr.
The Royal Line of Martin DuBosc by Norman J. McFaddin, Sr.
Revolutionary War Service of Henry DuRant by Henry Lide DuRant
The DuRants of Cedar Grove by Norman J. McFaddin, Sr.
The Family of Henry DuRant the Revolutionary War Scout by Norman J. McFaddin, Sr.
A Family Called Fort by H. T. Fort & D. S. Jones
Friersons of Zion Church and their Descendants by Meade Frierson, III
The Descendants of Andrew & Agnes Fulmore by William C. Harllee
Gammill Family Generations by John S. Gammill
Michael Gibbons of SC and His Descendants by Laura Hersperger
The Gourdin Family by Peter G. Gourdin, IV
Grant - Looking Back - Reminisces of a Black Family by Moses A. Grant
The Descendants of Richard "Dick" Harvin by Norman J. McFaddin
The Harvin Family of Clarendon County
Genealogy Huggins 1682 - 1934 by George Allen Huggins
John Huggins of See Wee Bay, SC by Beiman Otis Prince
Proud to Remember - History of Alfred Kearl by Marshal and Noker
 Proud to Remember - History  of Lula Humphrey Kearl by Vera L. K. Marshall
Kinfolks - Volumes I, II, & III with index by W. C. Harllee
The Descendants of Leonora "Leah" Lenoir by Norman J. McFaddin
A History of the Clan MacLean by J. P. MacLean
Robert McFaddin and His Descendants by Norman J. McFaddin
The William Mellette Story by Family Reunion
Descendants of Hugh Montgomery by McFaddin Family
Abstract of Moor Records of South Carolina by Janie Revill
My Morris Family Tree by Carroll & Mary L. Morris
The Descendants of Thomas Nelson by Norman J. McFaddin
Descendants of William Roger Player by James M. Sprott, Jr.
Player Family by Otis Prince
Descendants of Edward R. Plowden, Sr. by Norman J. McFaddin
History of Descendants  of Edward Plowden
Notes on Sir Edmund Plowden & New Albion by Clifford Lewis, III
Sir Edmund Plowden & the New Albion Charter, 1632-1785 by Edward C. Carter, II
The Letters of Private John Covert Plowden by Henry B. Rollins
Plowden - The Plowdens in History by Jesse Clifton Plowden, Jr.
Plowden/DuRant Family Records by Henry Lide DuRant
 Genealogy Joseph Edward Rhodes by Rhodes Family Association
 Notes on the Richbourg Family of Old Sumter District by Jean Brunson & Maynard Davis
Ridgeway Family History by Cynthia Ridgeway Parker
Ridgill Family Tree by Betty N. D. Smith
Singleton Family History by Tom Land
The Stepp/Stapp Families of America by Henry P. Scalf
A Family's Story  (Thames)by Steele D. & Adele Meyer Thames
Climbing the Family Tree of Thigpen by Gayle T. Weatherly
Whitney - The Ancestry of John Whitney  by Henry Melville
Wilson's by Norman J. McFaddin
Witherspoon - John Knox the Reformer by Norman J. McFaddin

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On Friday, October 24, 1997, the Grand Opening Celebration of the Clarendon County Archives and History Center took place. Featuring a candlelight tour of the grounds, the celebration began at 7:00 p.m. and ended around 9:00 p.m. Participants were able to view an array of irreplaceable items. One item on display was the beaded, sleeveless gown with fur trim worn by Marian McKnight, the Clarendon County native who was crowned Miss America in 1957. The archives also holds some 281 year-old deeds and land grants. Unpublished family histories line the shelves of the octagonal shaped main room. The center is important to Clarendon County and has been twenty years in the making. Clarendon County was the last of the 46 counties in the state of South Carolina to have a public county library. With the backing of the then newly elected Senator John Land of Manning and Representative C. Alex Harvin III of Summerton, the county was able to obtain the money to build a new library. When the county built the new Harvin Clarendon County Library in 1984, the old Manning Library building, next door to the new library, came to be used for Rotary Club meeting, D.A.R. meetings, dance lessons, the Clarendon County Historical Society meetings, and meetings with various other agendas. The building has since been restored to its former glory and houses the historical archives, complying with the wishes of the last heirs of the Levi family who had originally donated the land and $1,000 for the building of the library in Manning in 1908. The building is one of only two listed with the National Historic Register in Manning. (The other is the old Belk's building.)

Reinactment during the Grand Opening of the Archives

In order to fulfill its mission of preserving the history, records, and culture of Clarendon County, the Clarendon County Archives and History Center needs the assistance of everyone with a historical interest in Clarendon County. Monetary donations are needed in order to purchase books, microfilm, and documents as well as to upgrade the building and grounds.  Copies of photographs, wills, deeds, Bible records, family histories, gedcom files, or anything else from your genealogical research is needed. "The center is currently open 4 days per week and thanks to the County Council and other concerned individuals, is constantly looking toward expanding holdings and upgrading the facility. In the future they hope to make research in the Clarendon County area easier and more rewarding. Come and be a part of preserving the rich heritage of Clarendon County by sharing your family papers, photos and even your time as a volunteer.

Visit the Clarendon County Archives homepage.

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