Using the Summary Guide to State Records

• Select Search the Summary Guide to State Records to link to an alphabetical listing
• Choose the letter of the primary word or keyword in the name of the agency to link to an alphabetical list of agency names for that letter
• Example: Chose H for Dept. of Health and Environmental Control
• Cross-references are provided where the name or function of the agency has changed and for many names of agency divisions or units. State Agency Names History by the South Carolina State Library is a useful tool for tracing agency restructuring and name changes.
• Microcopy publications are listed with the records of the Dept. of Archives and History
• Select the agency name to link to the listing of record series for that agency
• In most instances, records are further divided into subgroups, which correspond to the administrative units who created, inherited, or received the record on deposit. Some units represented are now defunct.
• Within each subgroup, records are listed numerically by series or call number
• Certain terms and abbreviations occur in the series entries
• Each series entry is composed of the:
• series/call number
• name of the records creator (agency, commission, board, governor, court, or other entity and, where applicable, the division or unit)
• title of the record series
• inclusive date span of the series (i.e., the earliest date and the latest date represented in the series)
• bulk dates, where applicable (time period into which most of the records fall)
• quantity of the series (amount of cubic feet, volumes, microfilm reels, or other unit)
• statement of restriction on use or terms governing access of the series
• Access to some types of media requires prior notice
• For container listings, see SCArchCat, the online catalog to our holdings which also gives additional information for many series and allows searching by keyword, subjects, and titles at each level (series, record group, container/folder, or item) or all levels combined
• Researchers interested in obtaining more information about record series should contact the State Archives and identify the series/call number and series title when making an inquiry

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