Founded in April 1994 under the auspices of the Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program and still formally part of it, the Jewish Historical Society of South Carolina’s purpose is to encourage the collection, study, and interpretation of South Carolina Jewish history and to increase awareness of that heritage among Jews and non-Jews.
JHSSC meets twice a year in different cities and towns across South Carolina (when there’s no pandemic, that is), publishes a biannual magazine, and maintains an active website. Membership has grown over the years, and now surpasses 500. In partnership with local communities, the Society sponsors historical markers at sites of Jewish interest. Its statewide survey of Jewish burial grounds, accessible on this site, continues to expand, as additional tombstones are photographed and genealogical information is discovered.
JHSSC’s major research initiatives have been developed under the auspices of the Jewish Heritage Collection housed in Special Collections at the College of Charleston’s Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library. To date, more than 400 oral histories pertaining to South Carolina Jewish history and culture have been recorded. Project staff and volunteers have compiled an extensive manuscript collection, including records of families, businesses, synagogues, and Jewish organizations. The archives contain thousands of manuscripts, historical photographs, genealogical records, and fieldwork files.
The Historical Society often partners with the Jewish Studies Program’s Pearlstine/Lipov Center for Southern Jewish Culture.
See here for the Historical Society’s website. For updates and events info, visit the Society’s Facebook page. For further questions, contact JHSSC staff via email.
