Religious Collections

31 May 2008

Also see Library Holdings WebPage

Doing research in the “Golden Corner” of South Carolina (Anderson-Oconee-Pickens Counties) might be time consuming for you, because of how these counties were formed.  Based on your time-period, you might need to research all (3) counties. 

"The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material.  Under certain conditions as specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction.  One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research."  If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement.  This institution reserves the right to refuse a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of the copyright law."

Note: Some libraries will allow researchers to use a Laptop PC with Scanner for copying book pages.

American Universities

Canadian Universities

Christian College Guide

Christian Resources on the Internet

Cyndi's List - Schools

Directory of Christian Organizations

International Universities

Internet Christian Library

World Wide Web Library Directory

Baptist:

Anderson College

Bob Jones University:

• Laura Ladwig, Historical Records Program, Bob Jones University, Wade Hampton Blvd, Greenville, SC 29614, Telephone: 864-232-5100, Fax: 864-232-1729

Cyndi's List - Baptist:

Furman University:

• Special Collections Archives Director:  DebbieLee Landi, Furman University Special Collections, James B. Duke Library, 3300 Poinsett Highway, Greenville, SC 29613, Telephone: (864) 294-3515, Fax: (864) 294-3000
• Baptist Collection Librarian:  Carolyn Lancaster at carolyn.lancaster@furman.edu
• Collections: Dates: 1790–1900. The Special Collections Department is composed of the Furman Archives, the South Carolina Baptist Historical Collection and a collection of books. The archival materials relate to the history of Furman University and the history of South Carolina Baptists. Included are papers of South Carolina Baptist ministers, Furman alumni, Furman faculty, South Carolina Baptist church records on microfilm, official publications of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, convention annuals, South Carolina Baptist associations minutes, South Carolina Baptist newspapers, photographs relating to Furman and South Carolina Baptists history, and sound and video recordings from Furman and South Carolina Baptist sources. http://library.furman.edu/depts/speccoll/speccoll.htm
• Church Record Microfilm Holdings

Assemblies of God:

Catholic:

Cyndi's List - Catholic:

Local Catholic Church and Family History & Genealogical Research Guide:

Church of God:

• Rev. Shane B. Stone, Higher Ground Ministries at fraspartanburg@charter.net has holdings for Oconee county.

Jewish:

Luthern:

Cyndi's List - Luthern:

Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, 4201 North Main Street, Columbia, SC 29203, (803) 461-3234, FAX: (803) 461-3358, E-mail: archives@ltss.edu

Mennonite:

Methodist:

Cyndi's List - Methodist:

Drew University:

Wofford University:

(Laptop PC w/Scanner is authorized)

• The purpose of the General Commission on Archives and History is to promote and care for the historical interest of The United Methodist Church. They maintain an archives and library in which  historical records and materials relating to The United Methodist Church are preserved. They are made available for public and scholarly use at http://www.gcah.org/.
• Their library is also maintained by Drew University and their material along with the university's is listed in their on-line catalog at . Wofford College Archivist: Phillip Stone, Sandor Teszler Library, Wofford College, 429 North Church St., Spartanburg, SC 29303-3663, 864-597-4309, fax 864-597-4329, stonerp@wofford.edu
• The Wofford Library collections are housed in the Sandor Teszler Library. The building was dedicated in 1971 and named for Sandor Teszler, a well-known textile leader. http://wofford.edu/library
• The Library's Archives Department houses the permanently valuable records of the College and the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church.  The College collection consists of trustee and faculty minutes, student publications, early student registers, books and articles by faculty members and some alumni, and records of some student organizations.
• The United Methodist Collection consists of the minutes of the South Carolina Annual Conference, and copies of the conference newspaper, the Southern Christian Advocate.  Additionally, there are records from some 75 churches or circuits, published histories of many churches and of the conference, and some books about Methodism.  Additionally, there is an index to ministers who have served appointments inthe Conference, and an index to obituaries appearing in the Advocate.  Part of this obituary index is accessible from the library's web page.
• The Archives is open 9-12 and 1-4 Monday-Friday, but it is best to call and make an appointment before coming.

Presbyterian:

Clinton Presbyterian University:

Cyndi's List - Presbyterian

Montreat Presbyterian Historical Society:

On June 21, 2006, the Assembly voted to approve the Committee on the Office of the General Assembly (COGA) recommendation to close the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS) office at Montreat, North Carolina. 

• Although there is a Presbyterian Historical Society in Philadelphia, the best place to find material on the "Southern" church is at Montreat. 
• The Presbyterian Historical Society serves its constituency from two regional offices, one in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and one in Montreat, North Carolina. The Philadelphia office documents "northern stream" predecessor denominations and their work, congregations, and middle governing bodies in thirty-six states, and the work of the current denomination's national agencies.
• The Montreat office documents "southern stream" predecessor denominations and congregations and middle governing bodies in fourteen southern states. For records from congregations, synods, and presbyteries in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Virginia, contact the Montreat office first. For all others, contact the Philadelphia office first.
• William B. Bynum, Acting Deputy Director, Presbyterian Historical Society, Montreat Office, PO Box 849, Montreat, NC 28757, phone 828-669-7061, fax 828-669-5369
  Presbyterian Historical Society , 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia PA 19147-1516, Telephone (215) 627-1852, Fax (215) 627-0509, The Special Collections area at the Thomason Library, Presbyterian College, Clinton SC contains a quantity of Presbyterian materials, including minutes of the Synod of South Carolina (and its successors, the Synod of the Southeast and the Synod of the South Atlantic), the Minutes of the General Assembly, incomplete sets of South Carolina presbytery minutes, many histories of churches in South Carolina, biographies of area ministers, sermons, and the papers of 19th century ministers Ferdinand and William Plumer Jacobs. The library also has extensive information on Presbyterian College and Thornwell Orphanage. The library's catalog can be searched online at: http://library.presby.edu/. Special Collections librarian is Nancy Griffith, e-mail ngriffit@presby.edu

• Preserve your church records by visiting http://history.pcusa.org/synods/mfilm1.html.

          (This library is scheduled to close approx. 2008/9.  Their holdings will be distributed to the repository in Philadelphia and to the Columbia Theological Seminary

          Library in Decatur, Ga.)

South Caroliniana Library at USC has over 474 titles listed on South Carolina Presbyterianism, including local church histories. They also have over 800 issues of the "Southern Presbyterian," which was a prominent journal during the late 19th and early 20 centuries.Their catalog can be searched online at: http://www.sc.edu/uscan/

Quaker:

Wesleyan:

Southern Wesleyan University - Clayton Genealogy Room:

(Laptop PC w/Scanner is authorized)

• Southern Wesleyan University, 907 Wesleyan, Central, SC 29630, 864-644-5000, The Claude R. Rickman Library is conveniently located at the center of the campus. The collection contains 70,000+ volumes, and is particularly strong in the areas of religion and history. In addition, the library subscribes to over 600 current periodicals. The Wesleyan Collection contains archival material on the Wesleyan Church and the university. http://www.swu.edu/library/

• The Clayton Room Collection is an excellent resource holding for all types of Anderson-Oconee-Pickens County information.

  Anne Sheriff at claytonroom@swu.edu normally is available for assistance on Wednesday mornings. 864-644-5000 Extension: 5088

   

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