Archival Training and Preservation of Historical Records at the Charleston County Records Center: 250th Anniversary of America Initiative

FAIN: PG-271639-20

Charleston County Government (North Charleston, SC 29405-7464)
Haley Doty Vaden (Project Director: January 2020 to January 2023)

Education and training to enhance staff knowledge of metadata assessment, object description, and best practices in digitization. This work is a first step in developing finding aids and digital collections in preparation for the 250th anniversary of American independence in 2026. The County of Charleston collections include probate records dating back to the incorporation of the town in the early eighteenth century and document the transition from British rule to independence.

The goal of the Preservation Assistance Grant project is to support preservation and training for public access to historical records at the Charleston County Records Center (CCRC). An emphasis will be placed on “A More Perfect Union,” the 250th Anniversary of the United States. One goal of the project will be archival training to catalog and describe historical collections pertaining to American History. Another goal of the project will be to continue an ongoing re-housing program for records with a permanent retention. Two previously funded Preservation Assistance Grants have helped support the CCRC preservation program. The historic records include Probate Court books and files from the 1730s – 1970s and Clerk of Court case files from the early 1800s – 1899. The Preservation Assistance Grant will benefit CCRC by training staff in best practices for providing digital access to records of historical value and improve the storage environment of these records, to reduce risks.

Media Coverage

Little-known Charleston County Records Center to increase public access to historic papers (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Rickey Ciapha Dennis Jr
Publication: Post and Courier
Date: 11/23/2020
Abstract: This article discusses the NEH grant-funded project at the Charleston County Records Center (CCRC), the collections at CCRC, and the history of Charleston as reflected in those records.
URL: https://www.postandcourier.com/news/little-known-charleston-county-records-center-to-increase-public-access-to-historic-papers/article_a0db3a0c-2a99-11eb-a14e-bbf08635f971.html