Charleston Record Survival & Loss Narrative
What burned-courthouse folklore gets wrong—and where records actually survive for Charleston County.
Record survival: Charleston’s problem is rarely a single “courthouse fire.” Colonial and district series are dense but dispersed (SCDAH, city, federal, churches). 1865 occupation changes access; some private and institutional losses occurred, but large public series survive in microfilm and archives.
- Pre-1785: treat Charleston/Secretary series as statewide finding aids for deeds.
- Use parish and city sources alongside county ROD/probate.
- What survives: massive colonial/district paper at SCDAH + local repositories; newspapers; church registers.