Listed are indexes and databases designed to help users research South Carolina death notices.
Locating South Carolina obituaries can help you gain a good deal of data you need for your genealogy records and family history documentation. There is a large amount of information online when searching for obituaries, death certificates or other types of vital records. Yet, there is often a good deal that can be located in person as well. Many people find using both approaches is the best method to have the greatest amount of success.
South Carolina genealogy records, such as databases for death records or obituaries, can be divided between counties or researched statewide. Some are fee based and some are free, but most of these seem to be starting at around 1919, which may not offer a wide enough search for you.
If you can locate the county you think the obituary is from, you are bound to be able to broaden the dates for your search. For example, Beaufort County in South Carolina has an obituary index that starts back at 1862. Also, if you can use probate records you can find areas of South Carolina that date back to 1782. Again, some of these are at no charge, but many do charge at least a nominal fee.
If you have trouble locating the obituary you are seeking, don’t get frustrated too quickly. One thing to keep in mind is that newspapers didn’t all print daily obituaries. In fact, some newspapers were only printed on a weekly basis. So, if you are having trouble finding the date you want, try looking within the week or month for the data.
Another thing you can do online is get the addresses and phone numbers for places you may want to include in your offline search. Also, look for contact names of people who may be able to help you. Go ahead and email or phone these names and see if you can get some rapport going ahead of time. That way, you may even have the information waiting for you when you get there.
Libraries are usually the best place to get the data you need for South Carolina obituaries. When possible though, contact an area and find out how they store their archival records. Some areas keep all newspapers and microfilm in one main library, while others split the records up between branches. Save yourself the effort and find out before traveling to an area if you can determine which location you should visit.
If you cannot make it to an area of South Carolina or to the state at all, find out if someone can assist you with your document retrieval. Sometimes a library employee or genealogy volunteer can help you find and receive the South Carolina obituaries you need for your records.
Finding South Carolina obituaries online is an incredibly easy process as long as you have some basic information to start with. It helps if you have an idea of the date of death and it also helps if you know what region of the state the person lived in when they passed away.
Once you have that information, you can begin using sites like the Leonardo Andrea Genealogical Collection for South Carolina. There is an astonishing amount of information here and it is all free to look at and easily searchable. You can also check the Beaufort County Public Library for information from this area of the state. Listings start in 1862 and go until 1981. The Camden Archives and Museum also has a large number of listings online that have come from the Kershaw County newspapers.
The Charleston County Library is always a good place to check if you need South Carolina obituary records. They have a wide array of scanned newspaper pages from the last few decades. You can check out the site for the Colleton County Library and browse their selection of listings from way back in 1873 all the way back to modern day.
Listed are indexes and databases designed to help users research South Carolina death notices.
Though you cannot actually see copies of the original obituaries themselves online, you can use the index from the Beaufort County Library in order to discover whether that organization has the document on microfiche – which can then be photocopied for you. There is a five dollar fee in order to take advantage of this service.
There are three major sources for the Richland County Public Library's obituary index. These include those printed in the State newspaper, as well as within the Palmetto Leader, and the listings of servicemen who had been killed in action in World War II. The database is continually under construction in an attempt to make it complete for every year possible.
Through the State Library, you can not only find out if South Carolina death notices are available on record, but you can also request a copy of the original clipping notice once they have been located. The publications of dozens of newspapers have been included in the database, for an extremely complete index of these documents.
Below is a list of South Carolina newspaper obituaries to aid in genealogical research.
The Aiken Standard offers users three different ways to search for obituaries. First, current notices are immediately available via the website. For those looking for a specific notice, there's also a useful search engine. But on top of this, the Aiken Standard also has historical archives, which can expand the scope of research to include far older records.
While some newspapers offer obituaries online only through confusing archives, others like the Daily Messenger offer clarity above all else. Current listings are immediately available and listed in chronological order. Those looking for older records need only to follow links at the bottom of the page that date back to the first digital versions of the publication, which date to 2007.
Few newspapers offer the same depth and ease of obituary information as the Greenville News. The day's notices are listed prominently, but there are also clear links to older records that date back as far as 2000. Furthermore, a convenient sidebar lists upcoming visitations and services as a service to the community and the bereaved.
For those searching for obituary records, few newspapers offer the convenience and service of the Charleston Post and Courier. Recent notices are easy to access, but there's also a dedicated search engine that lets you search by name, date, and keyword. Unfortunately, most records remain online for only 30 days.
Obituaries are an important part of the local newspaper, and that has continued even as newspapers make the transition to digital media. Papers like the Union Daily Times reflect their local roots by providing obituaries in a straightforward simple format. While there is no dedicated obit search, there is a way to search the entire paper, which should make finding the records you need easier.
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