Blog
Richland Library Main

A Look at Richland County's HBCUs

  • Leslie L.
  • Wednesday, September 20

Of the eight HBCUS found in South Carolina, two of these institutions can be found in Richland County: Allen University and Benedict College.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Cuban Trainees at Fort Jackson

  • Margaret D.
  • Friday, September 15

For Hispanic Heritage Month,take a look at a little-known chapter of history that unfolded in Columbia at Fort Jackson, where several thousand Cubans came to receive military training and United States citizenship.

Oct 12 6:00 p.m.

Event
Richland Library North Main

Greenview Neighborhood History

Join us with Eric Friendly from Historic Columbia Foundation to discuss the history of the Greenview neighborhood.

Nov 07 12:00 p.m.

Event
Richland Library Main

What's In Your Attic?

South Carolina Historical Society’s VP of Collections Virginia Ellison will discuss the benefits and procedures of donating materials to an archival repository or museum.

Event Type(s):

Lifeskills

Audience(s):

Adults

Nov 29 12:00 p.m.

Event
Richland Library Main

Newspapers for Genealogists

Want to find your ancestor’s obituary or uncover some forgotten facts about local events, place, or people? Researching in newspaper archives can be a rewarding avenue for fascinating genealogical discoveries!

Event Type(s):

Lifeskills

Audience(s):

Adults
Blog
Richland Library Main

Hip-Hop Highlights from the Local History Collection

  • Leslie L.
  • Friday, August 18

Columbia, SC, has played host to some of hip-hop's most iconic figures. As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, let's take a stroll down memory lane and revisit some of the genre's defining moments in the city from Richland Library’s Local History Digital Collections.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Eleanor Roosevelt’s visit to Columbia

  • Margaret D.
  • Friday, June 23

On October 28, 1938, First Lady of the United States Eleanor Roosevelt visited Columbia. Remarkably, we have photographs of this visit in the Walker Local and Family History Center at Richland Library.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Local Woman Charity Adams Recognized

  • Margaret D.
  • Friday, April 28

The United States Department of Defense recently recognized Columbia woman Charity E. Adams (1918 – 2002) for her groundbreaking role as the first African American woman to lead a military unit overseas during wartime.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Remembering Dixie Super Market

  • Margaret D.
  • Tuesday, March 28

From 1937 to 1988 there was a unique supermarket at 1438 Assembly Street where folks from the surrounding neighborhoods could buy local meat and produce.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Celebrating Martha Cramer

  • Margaret D.
  • Monday, March 06

Almost lost to history, Mrs. Martha Cramer was instrumental in establishing Columbia’s first public library. We at Richland Library owe her a debt of gratitude for spearheading the creation of our current library system more than 125 years ago.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Tribute to Drink Small

  • Margaret D.
  • Wednesday, February 22

Drink Small, a local musical treasure, recently turned 90 years old. Let’s reflect on Mr. Small’s career and legacy.

Blog
Richland Library Main

History of Richland Library

  • Margaret D.
  • Monday, June 19

To mark the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Main Library at 1431 Assembly Street, I decided to take a look back at the Richland Libraries of years past.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Holiday Lights on Main Street

  • Margaret D.
  • Monday, December 12

From 1927 until the 1970s lights and Christmas decorations went up on Main Street to mark the holiday season.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Preservation of Historic Cemeteries

  • Margaret D.
  • Friday, October 21

Do you own or manage a historic family or church cemetery? These cemetery preservation and maintenance tips have been prepared by staff from the Walker Local & Family History Center at Richland Library.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Just for the Record 🎶

  • Laura Bliss Morris
  • Thursday, August 31

A few weeks ago, I was casually chatting with my mother-in-law about some exciting new things happening at the library including the re-launch of our vinyl collection. Come to find out, she actually worked at the library during the early 1970s and was responsible for curating the library’s record collection. How cool is that? With October also being National Family History Month, I knew I couldn’t miss the opportunity to pick her brain. 

Blog
Richland Library Main

Columbia's Farmers Markets

  • Margaret D.
  • Friday, July 15

Tomatoes, okra, squash, cucumbers, and watermelon. These are my favorite summer vegetables and they always taste best when I buy them at a local farmers market.

Blog
Richland Library Main

View from the Jefferson Hotel

  • Margaret D.
  • Friday, June 24

For over 50 years, the Jefferson Hotel stood elegantly on the corner of Main and Laurel Streets in downtown Columbia.

Blog
Richland Library Main

History of the Syrian-Lebanon Society in Columbia

  • Margaret D.
  • Friday, April 29

The history of the Syrian-Lebanon Society in Columbia tells the story of a group of immigrants who came to South Carolina seeking opportunity, and who eventually blended the cultures from their homeland to that in their new-found home.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Signs of Segregation from Columbia's Past

  • Margaret D.
  • Monday, February 21

Discover places in downtown Columbia that once held signs of segregation through these "then and now" images constructed from historic photographs in our archives.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Black-Owned Newspapers in Columbia

  • Margaret D.
  • Tuesday, February 01

Over the years, there have been several newspapers published in Columbia covering news and events for Black readers. Let’s take a look at some of these titles and find out where you can access them.

Blog
Richland Library Main

What Exactly Is DHEC?

  • Dusty R.
  • Friday, December 17

DHEC has been in the news a lot lately. Learn more about this crucial part of the South Carolina government.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Remembering the Palmetto State Fair

  • Margaret D.
  • Thursday, October 14

Generations of Black Columbians attended the Palmetto State Fair, held each fall at the State fairgrounds in Columbia. Let’s look back at a brief history of this fair.

Blog
Richland Library Main

South Carolina's Homes for Unwed Mothers

  • Margaret D.
  • Wednesday, September 15

In a time not so long ago, unwed girls and women who found themselves “in trouble” had few options. Women with an unplanned pregnancy would face the frightening prospects of raising their child without support, finding a family member to take in their child, obtaining a back-alley abortion, or, if they were lucky, disappearing to a home for unwed mothers to deliver their child in secrecy.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Third Cousin Twice Removed?

  • Dusty R.
  • Monday, June 14

Do you need to refresh your memory on how exactly you and Cousin Sue are related before the next family reunion?

Blog
Richland Library Main

Washington Street's Black Business District

  • Margaret D.
  • Tuesday, April 20

Two downtown blocks on Washington Street were once known as Columbia's Black Downtown. View historic photographs of the district from the Walker Local & Family History Center.

Blog
Richland Library Sandhills

Five Trailblazing Women of Richland County

  • Brittany S.
    Alex B.
  • Tuesday, April 27

Let's look at five amazing women leaders who not only have made a positive impact all across Richland County, but have broken down barriers while they were at it. 

Blog
Richland Library Main

The Story of the Big Apple Night Club

  • Margaret D.
  • Monday, August 21

The Big Apple nightclub was once a swinging spot in downtown Columbia where the music could be heard for blocks around and the dancers took to the floor and started a national dance craze. Let’s take a look back at the exciting story of the Big Apple.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Most Popular Historic Images in December 2020

  • Margaret D.
  • Tuesday, January 05

With over 7,000 images in the Local History Digital Collections it can be hard to find those hidden gems. Take a look at what your neighbors found interesting in December, 2020.

Blog
Richland Library Sandhills

Stories of Struggle: A Book Review

  • Morgan R.
  • Friday, November 06

Claudia Smith Brinson's Stories of Struggle: The Clash Over Civil Rights in South Carolina shines a light on some of South Carolina's most influential pioneers of social justice.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Most Popular Historic Images in October 2020

  • Margaret D.
  • Monday, December 07

With over 7,000 images in the Local History Digital Collections it can be hard to find those hidden gems. Take a look at what your neighbors found interesting in October, 2020.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Most Popular Historic Images in September 2020

  • Margaret D.
  • Thursday, October 08

With over 7,000 images in the Local History Digital Collections it can be hard to find those hidden gems. Take a look at what your neighbors found interesting in September, 2020.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Voting in Columbia, a historical perspective

  • Margaret D.
  • Monday, September 28

The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy, granting the right to have a voice in our society. For anyone deprived of these rights, the struggle to secure them has been worth the fight. Explore some historic touchpoints that converge around the evolution of the right to vote in Columbia.

Blog
Richland Library Main

The Census Through The Centuries

  • Dusty R.
  • Tuesday, September 29

Because of the “72 year rule,” the 2020 Census will not be available for genealogists until 2092. When it is released, will your descendants be able to find you in the 2020 Census?

Blog
Richland Library Main

Most Popular Historic Images in August 2020

  • Margaret D.
  • Tuesday, October 06

With over 7,000 images in the Local History Digital Collections it can be hard to find those hidden gems. Take a look at what your neighbors found interesting in August, 2020.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Most Popular Historic Images in July 2020

  • Margaret D.
  • Wednesday, September 02

With over 7,000 images in the Local History Digital Collections it can be hard to find those hidden gems. Take a look at what your neighbors found interesting in July, 2020.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Most Popular Historic Images in June 2020

  • Margaret D.
  • Monday, August 03

With over 7,000 images in the Local History Digital Collections it can be hard to find those hidden gems. Take a look at what your neighbors found interesting in June, 2020.

Blog
Richland Library Main

A Shameful History

  • Margaret D.
  • Wednesday, June 03

As curator to Richland Library’s historic photograph collection, I have come face to face with evidence of South Carolina’s shameful history of police violence and unequal justice for African Americans.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Most Popular Historic Images in May 2020

  • Margaret D.
  • Thursday, July 02

With over 7,000 images in the Local History Digital Collections it can be hard to find those hidden gems. Take a look at what your neighbors found interesting in May, 2020.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Most Popular Historic Images in April 2020

  • Margaret D.
  • Monday, June 01

With over 7,000 images in the Local History Digital Collections it can be hard to find those hidden gems. Take a look at what your neighbors found interesting in April, 2020.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Most Popular Historic Images in March 2020

  • Margaret D.
  • Tuesday, May 05

With over 7,000 images in the Local History Digital Collections it can be hard to find those hidden gems. Take a look at what your neighbors found interesting in March, 2020.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Moments in Local Women’s History

  • Margaret D.
  • Thursday, February 27

Celebrate National Women’s History Month with a look back at events that shaped women’s roles in our community. Some moments moved us forward, others bring the glass ceiling into relief. In all we meet women who have made strides in expanding the role of women in our community.

Blog
Richland Library Main

March 2, 1961 at the State House

  • Margaret D.
  • Monday, February 10

New discoveries from the Local History collections illuminate a March 2, 1961 civil rights protest in Columbia that led to a U.S. Supreme Court decision.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Columbia

  • Margaret D.
  • Wednesday, January 15

The city of Columbia has felt the impact of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in countless ways. We are lucky to have some photographs of the great man in our local newspaper archive.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Awkward Christmas Photos

  • Margaret D.
  • Thursday, December 19

From quirky to cute, Christmas photographs in the Local History Digital Collections can help put you in the holiday spirit. Here is a selection of some of the more unusual sights of Christmases past.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Faces at the Carillon Parade

  • Margaret D.
  • Monday, November 25

Columbia has hosted the Carillon Parade annually since 1953, both to usher in the holiday season and to showcase the area’s bands and talent. The library’s Local History Digital Collections allows us to see the evolution of the parade and to catch a glimpse of the smiling faces it inspired.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Ghosts of Photographers Past

  • Margaret D.
  • Friday, August 16

Working with photograph archives I often feel the “presence” of the photographers who created the collection. It is as if they are watching to make sure I get it right.

Blog
Richland Library Main

Columbia during the Cold War

  • Margaret D.
  • Thursday, July 25

Historic images in the Local History collection illuminate Columbia during the Cold War era as marked by a mixture of fear that we might experience a nuclear disaster and optimism that we could survive one.

Blog
Richland Library Main

A Look Back at the Assembly Street Post Office

  • Margaret D.
  • Friday, May 10

Columbia City Council will purchase the U.S. Post Office building on Assembly Street. Let's take a look back at the history of this building with images from the Local History Digital Collections. 📷 

Blog
Richland Library Main

Main Street at Mid-Century

  • Margaret D.
  • Friday, November 30

A historic photograph collection in Local History reveals a bustling Main Street in Columbia.

Database

NewsBank

NewsBank provides access to hundreds of newspapers from around the country and within South Carolina, including The State and The Post and Courier.

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