As part of the Claude Rickman Library located at Southern Wesleyan University, Faith Clayton Room houses a collection of local history and genealogy about Upstate South Carolina. This research collection contains information about Pickens County, Upstate counties, many South Carolina counties and out-of-state resources as it relates to the Old Wagon Road from Virginia to Texas.
All Clayton Room materials are non-circulating and are not available through inter-library loan.
A volunteer is available to assist researchers on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also, researchers can request information by using regular mail or e-mail. Although the volunteer is unable to do extensive research, a specific reference question can be answered. Any photocopying will be billed to the researcher.
Located in the lower level of the library building, the research area accommodates several researchers at a time. Microfilm and reader and printers are available. Most materials can be photocopied for a nominal fee. Fragile materials, however, cannot be photocopied. The duplication of manuscripts and photographs for use in publications requires permission from the library.
Family History at the Library
Our Special Collections includes the following in the main reading room:
- Clayton Collection from Faith Clayton and other donors
- Walter Weston Folger Collection
- Isadora and Marshall Williams Collection
- Adalai Yates Collection
- Alexander Collection from Peggy Rich and Marion Whitehurst, including information on Old Pickens
- Katherine Hester Collection
- Eme Banister Collection
- Florine H. Bartlett Collection
- Vera V. Wilson Collection
- D.K. Youngblood Collection
- Martha McJunkin Collection
- Dacusville Book Project and Tapes
Our microfilm collection includes a variety of early Upstate newspaper early issues including the Keowee Courier, Pendleton Messenger and Pickens Sentinel. The microfilm census collection includes all Pickens County Federal Census.
The microfilm collection also contains the South Carolina Record of Appointment of Postmasters, Register of Confederate Soldiers, Sailors and Citizens who died in Federal Prisons and Military Hospitals in the North 1861-1865. (1 roll), SC Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons 1865-1867, SC Admission to Citizenship 1790-1906, SC Internal Revenue Assessment, Pickens and Oconee Counties Draft Registration, Pickens District Plat Book A 1828-1836 and Plat Book B 1836-1860, Pendleton District Plat Books 1802-1805, Pendleton District Plat Books 1820-1828, and Anderson District Plat Book 1828-1836.
The book collection includes many family histories, state and county sources, military histories, cemetery records, and immigration and passenger lists. Check OneSearch for the call number for these items.
The Clayton Room also has a collection of original documents, plats, deeds, and photographs from the Clayton Family. These and other original collections are housed in locked cabinets and researchers must contact G. Anne Sheriff concerning use of these collections. Other original collections:
- Samuel Crawford Civil War Letters
- Jay Young Collection
- Mullinax Collection from Elizabeth Ellison
- Lynch Collection from Elizabeth Ellison
- Pauline Young Collection
- Original Bibles from Claytons and others
- Faith Clayton Collection
- Harold Clayton Collection of Letters
- Van Clayton Collection
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Miscellaneous Small Collections
The Old Pendleton Genealogical Society publishes a newsletter nine times a year. The annual fee is $25 which entitles members to free queries about their South Carolina ancestors. For information contact LaMarr Brooks ( or Anne Sheriff ( ). Website for the society is www.oldpendleton.scgen.org.
Contacting Us
The Clayton Room is available the same hours as the library.
You can also write us at Rickman Library, Clayton Room, Southern Wesleyan University, PO Box 1020, Central, South Carolina 29630.
Clayton Room Telephone: 864-644-5088 (Leave Message)
G. Anne Sheriff Telephone: 864-888-7387
Requests by e-mail, letter, and telephone should be specific. Volunteers will conduct limited research. We request a $6.00 donation per individual request. This donation will include photocopies if material is located and postage.
If you'd like to contact us directly with your genealogy questions or related matters, e-mail us at: