Genealogy & Local History Resources
Working on your family tree? Whether you are local or across the country we are here to help.
Oconee History Museum staff is always working to make our collections more accessible. Please feel free to contact us with your local history and genealogical questions. We can provide research access to many out-of-print local history books and our archival collections.
Many genealogical resources for Oconee County are available online!
Good Places to Start
Maps
- View our How-To-History: Using Historic Maps video presentation
- Historical Maps of South Carolina (University of Alabama)
- Historical Maps of South Carolina (University of South Carolina)
- Atlas of South Carolina (Pendleton District) by Robert Mills
- Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of Oconee County (Walhalla, Westminster, Seneca)
-       Guide to reading Sanborn maps
- South Carolina Department of Transportation Road Maps of Oconee County
- USDA Historical Soil Survey Map of Oconee County
- Lake Hartwell Project Maps from Oconee County GIS
- Lake Keowee Project Maps from Oconee County GIS
- This digitized book shows detailed maps of Oconee County and local business advertisements from 1953.
- Maps show farmstead owners, roads, rivers, railroads, schools, churches, cemeteries, and more!
Deeds & Wills
- View our How-To-History: Finding Deeds & Wills video presentation
-       Access the How-To History: Finding Deeds & Wills presentation slides
- Visit the Oconee County Register of Deeds Office for deeds, mortgages, and plats. Scanned deeds are available to view online back to 1965.
- Visit the Oconee County Probate Court for wills, estate files, and marriage licenses.
Oconee Newspapers
- View our How-To-History: Researching Historic Newspapers video presentation
- 1849-1922 editions of Oconee’s oldest newspaper, the Keowee Courier, are freely available and full-text searchable via Chronicling America digital newspaper archives
- Visit the the Ann Rogers Memorial South Carolina History Room at the Oconee County Public Library in Walhalla, SC, for microfilm of Keowee Courier editions after 1922, as well as issues of the Tugaloo Tribune, Farm & Factory, (Seneca) Daily Journal, and Westminster News.
Oconee Census Records
- Click here for a map of Oconee County census enumeration districts.
- The Old Pendleton District Genealogical Society provides links to many Oconee census records.
- Visit the the Ann Rogers Memorial South Carolina History Room of the Oconee County Public Library in Walhalla, SC, for Oconee censuses on microfilm.
- Oconee County Public Library (OCPL) also offers free access to Ancestry.com for library card holders (available only at OCPL locations)
Oconee Cemeteries
- View our How-To-History: Locating Historic Cemeteries video presentation
-         Access the How-To History: Locating Historic Cemeteries presentation slides
- Most Oconee County cemetery and tombstone information is compiled on the Oconee County SC Cemetery GPS Mapping Project website. Scroll down for a chart showing cemeteries with aerial views, GPS map coordinates, Google Maps links, links to photos and text (tombstone transcriptions), direct links to Find-A-Grave.com listings, and general driving directions. This list is also cross-referenced with the Old Pendleton District Genealogical Society’s “Oconee Cemetery Survey Books”, which can be previewed and purchased on that page as well.
- Find-A-Grave.com
Local History Books
Many local history books have fallen out of print, but thanks to digitization efforts by the Oconee County Public Library, several have been preserved and are available online.
Oconee History Museum has many local history books available to researchers. Since many are now out of print, we do not loan these titles out. We encourage researchers to call ahead and schedule an appointment to view any of these titles. Museum staff are happy to make copies of relevant pages for you. The following links will provide you with a list of titles available at Oconee History Museum in Walhalla, SC:
- Titles relevant to the general history of Oconee County, SC, including Pickens & Pendleton Districts, natural history, and compilations
- Titles relevant to the history of the Cherokee in Oconee County, SC
- Titles relevant to the history of Walhalla, West Union, Mountain Rest, Tamassee, and Salem areas of Oconee County, SC
- Titles relevant to the history of Seneca, Richland, Newry, and Keowee areas of Oconee County, SC.
- Titles relevant to the history of Westminster, Long Creek, Chauga, Madison, Cleveland, Tugaloo, Fair Play, and Oakway in Oconee County, SC.
- Titles relevant to the history of areas neighboring Oconee County, SC.
- News from Rural Communities
- News Around Westminster 1888 – 1909
- Looking Back – 1889, 1899, 1909, 1949, 1989, 1999 (white cover)
- Looking Back – 1927, 1937, 1947, 1957, 1987, 1997, 2007 (gray cover)
- Looking Back – 1956, 1966, 1986, 1996, 2006 (red cover)
- Looking Back – 1938, 1948, 1958, 1988, 1998, 2008
- Looking Back – History of Sports in Oconee County
- Looking Back – 1973 – 1980 (green cover)
- Looking Back – 1966 – 1968 (orange cover)
- Looking Back – 1963 – 1965 (yellow cover)
- Looking Back – 1950 – 1955 (Linda’s Drive-In cover)
- Looking Back – 1941 -1945 (Veterans Memorial cover)
- Looking Back – 1915, 1918, 1924, 1935
- Looking Back – 1888, 1907, 1911, 1914
- These digitized directories list schools and teachers in Oconee County for school years ranging 1928-1968.
- Birth Certificates, 1915
- British and Private Records
- Local Records
- State Records
- Constitutional and Organic Papers
- Map Collection
- Records of Confederate Veterans 1909-1973
- Criminal Court Records
- Index to Multiple Record Series ca. 1675-1929
- Legislative Papers 1782-1866
- National Register of Historic Places
- Plats for State Land Grants 1784-1868
- School Insurance Photographs 1935-1952
- Will Transcripts 1782-1855
- Narrow search to Oconee County or specific towns
- Narrow search to Oconee County or specific towns