The Diocese of Charleston Office of Archives and Records Management documents the history of the Roman Catholic Church in South Carolina from before its establishment in 1820 to the present day. The objective is to preserve the history of Catholicism in South Carolina and promote a wider understanding of the Catholic Church by offering access to its collections of historic value. The archive holdings include non-current administrative, legal, fiscal, and canonical records. Also included are personal papers, records from institutions and organizations associated with the Catholic Church, and various publications and photographs.
The Diocese of Charleston, the sixth diocese in the country, originally encompassed 142,000 square miles and extended over three states: North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Today the diocese comprises the entire state of South Carolina, with Charleston as the See city. Through the archives, the diocese captures its rich heritage and presents a narrative of Catholicism in the South for future generations.