Darlington County, SC, African-American Genealogy

The local chapter of the South Carolina Genealogical Society. Its quarterly newsletter, The Darlington Flag, always includes content of interest to researchers of African-American families. Its publications include cemetery surveys of the entire county, including the upper part of Florence County. A must to belong to if you are doing Darlington or upper Florence research.

A national non-profit organization bringing together the descendants of enslaved ancestors and the descendants of of enslavers, for reconciliation, genealogical research, and action.

The oldest site devoted to African American genealogy. Includes information on research, some contributed sources, and more.

Located just off the square in downtown Darlington, this county agency holds all of the older county records, including probate records, equity records, deed books, etc., as well as family history files and original documents from public and private sources. Director Brian Gandy and his small but dedicated staff offer extraordinary service. The Commission now holds many of the resources of the ODDC library formerly located in Hartsville, SC.

FamilySearch.org has posted digitized images of records of the field offices of the Freedmen's Bureau. Not indexed, but you can find images of the records I've indexed or transcribed, as well as others. Note that an item mis-catalogued as a Columbia, SC, hospital record is actually the start of the Darlington Medical Register:

FamilySearch.org has posted digitized images of Darlington County Estate Files, Judgment Rolls (Court of Common Pleas actions for debt), and Coroner's Reports. No database index, but there are separate index books for each series. Note also that digitized images of most FHL will be added at FamilySearch.org. Check the catalogue--as of 14 September nearly all the deed books and a few of the equity court records were available as digital images online.