If you are interested in researching an historic property in Charleston, there are a host of locally-available institutions and resources.

Charleston County Public Library

With a Charleston County Public Library card, many resources are available online. You can apply for a library card here.

Historic Newspapers

• Navigate to the homepage
• Click research tab, select “Newspapers & Magazines,” and “The Charleston Collection”
• Search for keywords, names and addresses from this page.

Ancestry.com (includes Census data, City Directories, genealogical resources, etc.)

• Navigate to the homepage
• Click research tab, select “Biography & Genealogy.” Under, Ancestry Library Edition, and Access the database inside a library branch or from home with your Charleston County Public Library.

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps (shows building footprint, materials, etc.)

• Navigate to the homepage
• Click research tab, select “History & Geography” tab for Digital Sanborn Maps. Click Access the database inside a library branch or from home with your Charleston County Public Library card.
  • Once you’re logged in, select the correct state and city in the dropdown menus. Maps are available from 1884-1955.
  • How to use the maps: Go to the map key and find your property location. Navigate to the sheet number that corresponds with your property’s location.

Additional Online Resources:

Lowcountry Digital Library

1. Manuscripts
2. Photographs
3. Oral histories
4. Digital exhibits

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps

1. 1884 
2. 1888
3. 1902
4. 1944
5. 1951
6. 1955

Other Maps

1. The Investiture of Charleston, S.C. by the English army, in 1780
2. Iconography of Charleston, South Carolina, 1788
3. Bird’s eye view of the city of Charleston, South Carolina 1872
4. Halsey Map, 1949

In-person Institutional Resources:

South Carolina Room – Charleston County Public Library, 61 Calhoun Street, 2^nd floor
Contact: 843.805.6959, scroom@ccpl.org

1. Property files
2. Maps
3. City directories
4. Tax records
5. Access to Ancestry.com

South Carolina Historical Society Special Collections/Reading Room – Addlestone Library, 205 Calhoun Street, 3^rd floor, Room 340
By appointment only. Access appointment information here and Finding Aids here.

1. Manuscripts, letters, journals, maps
2. Rare books
3. Visual materials and artifacts

Register Of Deeds Office, Charleston County — O.T. Wallace County Office Building, 101 Meeting Street, Room 200

1. Deeds
2. Mortgages
3. Plats
4. Easements and covenants

City Of Charleston Permit Center – Gaillard Center, 2 George Street, 1^st floor
Open 9 AM – 2 PM, M-F, 843.577.5550

1. BAR property files
2. Survey cards
3. 1929 Sanborn Map

City Of Charleston Records Center – 2 George Street, 3^rd floor
Contact: Meg Moughan, moughanm@charleston-sc.gov

1. Permit records
2. Plans
3. Correspondence
4. (by appointment only)

Avery Research Center – 125 Bull Street

By appointment only. Access appointment information here or call 843.853.7608.
Explore Avery’s Finding Aid here.

1. Manuscripts
2. Photographs
3. Oral Histories