History & Genealogy

Genealogical research documents covering mostly Lancaster and the surrounding counties. Hours: Monday-Thursday: 9 am-8 pm; Friday: 9 am-5:30 pm; Saturday: 9 am-5 pm. No paid researchers.

The Lancaster Normal and Industrial Institute was founded on the former site of the Pettey School, which had been established in 1879 by the Reverend C. C. Pettey. Lancaster Institute began in 1887 as a boarding school for African-American students. The Institute provided elementary and advanced training for students preparing to become teachers and industrial workers. It was closed in 1923. None of the buildings remain. A historical marker was erected in 1977 by the Lancaster County Historic Commission on the former site.

The mill village of Lando has experienced over 253 years of history.  Known as Walker's Mill during the American Revolution, the grist mill and surrounding area hosted British troops during the summer of 1780.  Later known as White's mill in the early 1800's.  Lando was one of the first fulling mills in the south.  Benjamin Dawson Heath created Manetta Mills in 1896 and for almost 100 years made blankets that were sold all over the world under the Cannon and Lady Peppermill names, among others. The annual festival called "Lando Days" is held the first Saturday in October each year.  The 1920's company store is now home to the Lando-Manetta Mills History Center which portrays the "mill village" way of life. Each room tells a different story about the mill, post office, barber shop, bank, doctors offfice, school house, store, and mill house. No admission is charged but donations are welcome.  Hours of operation: 9:00 am - 12 noon, Mon & Wed; 2-5 pm, Sun. Other times by appointment.  Handicap accessible.

Genealogical research documents covering mostly Eastern Chester County and the Catawba River area. Hours: Monday-Friday: 10 am-6 pm; Saturday: 10 am-2 pm. No paid researchers.

Genealogical research documents covering primarily York, Chester and Lancaster counties, but also information covering other areas of South Carolina and some relating to North Carolina,
Georgia and other southeastern states. Hours: Monday-Thursday: 8:30 am-5 pm; Friday: 8:30 am-noon, and by appointment other times. This is a repository for historically valuable records relating to the history of Winthrop University, women, and South Carolina. A number of the collections pertain to the Civil War and are available for research including diaries, letters, master rolls, publications, reminiscences, genealogical collections, scholarly research, photographs and other materials. No paid researchers, but simple searches by staff available for a small fee. Visitors can e-mail the archivist here and from the website. In the Dacus Library.

This 19-acre site was the home of a multi-building campus of a private Methodist school for African Americans. It was established in 1867 by Sarah Babcock Mather who decided to create a school to teach children of former slaves for whom no formal educational institution existed. The Browning Home and Mather Academy opened a school with boarding facilities for girls in 1887. The original curriculum consisted of basic educational skills, instruction in social and family living and religion. Boys were enrolled for the first time in 1890 and the school had its first graduating class in 1893. In the 1930s Mather Academy was one of three schools in South Carolina to have a 12th grade. It merged with Boylan-Haven School of Jacksonville, Florida in 1959 and became known as the Boylan-Haven-Mather Academy. Mather had a peak student population of 300 in the 1940s-50s. The Academy produced some of South Carolina's most prominent African-American leaders in business, law, medicine and politics. One set of gates is all that remains of the campus. For more information on the school's history, reunion photos and more, visit the alumni website.