Orphanages in South Carolina - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Re: Odd Fellows Orphan Home- Greenville, SC, 1905-1928

dianehammsciara1952 — 2013-01-27 21:01:37Z

There is an orphanage that still operates today in Columbia, South Carolina. It has been there a very long time. It is Epworth Methodist Children's Home. In the census these orphans show up as inmates which leads one to think they are convicts, but they are not, they orphans.

Re: Odd Fellows Orphan Home- Greenville, SC, 1905-1928

J_L20 — 2013-01-19 01:22:16Z

EC Simpson, I dont know if you are still available but if so my grandmother was adopted from an orphanage in Greenville, SC in 1914(officially). She was born in 1911 in Atlanta but the adoption papers say she came from an orphanage in Greenville operated by the South Carolina Childrens Home Society.My mother and her sister and brothers would like to find out any information they can on her. Please let me know if this is something you may be able to help me with.I have her name before the adoption if you think you can help. Thanks

My grandmother

Frostilady711 — 2012-05-07 23:38:49Z

My grandmother lived in South Carolina around 1914. I was told that she worked in an orphanage there. Her name was Susie Phelps. Are there any records of employees of an orphanage around Greenville?

Re: Spartanburg County Orphanage

jannasims_1 — 2011-10-16 00:27:24Z

Have you been able to find any information on this Mullinax lead. My grandfather was Roy Washington Mullinax.

John De La Howe School / Lethe

katevonalt — 2011-06-19 12:00:55Z

I'm looking for information about the John De La Howe School for Orphans/hard luck children in the lat 1800s. The school is still open today, but they told me their records burned.

Re: Charleston Orphan House Census 1930-seeking inmates or relatives of inmates

tdennis2020 — 2011-01-31 01:37:04Z

My Mom Hazel Gregg was at the Orphan house from 1937-?. Her siblings were there ALSO.

Charleston Orphan House Census 1930-seeking inmates or relatives of inmates

malapino — 2010-05-09 19:18:34Z

I'm trying to find living people or relatives of people who lived at the Charleston Orphan House in the late 1920s to mid 1930s. My father and his siblings lived there from 1925 to 1935. I'd like to know what their life was like at the orphan house. My dad did not talk about it when he was alive.

Here is a list of the children who were "inmates" at the orphan house during the 1930 Census.

Letha Kilpatrick 9
Johnnie Kilpatrick 8
August Kilpatrick 6
Thelma Kilpatrick 4 1/12
Beulah L Knight 21
Heyward B Lesesne 7
David C Lesesne 5
Willie R Lesesne 9
John Lewis 5
Etta B Lewis 12
Myrtle Lemacks 15
Dell Lemacks 14
Rudy M Lemacks 15
Rafield J Moseley 15
Charles L Moseley 13
Frances W Moseley 11
Dorothy D Moseley 8
Charles H Murray 15 (His brother)
Quentin A Murray 11 (My father)
Margaret E Murray 13 (His sister)
Louis R Morillo 15
Roger B Morillo 12
Pauline H Morillo 10
Gladys D Meyers 15
Kathreen M Meyers 13
Mary E Meyers 5
John C Meyers 12
Herman F Meyers 8
Hazel Meyers 9
Charles A Morris 10
Henry L Morris 8
Willie H Moran 8
Cecil A Mcclary 15
Sam C Mcclary 13
Mottie L Mcclary 10
Oliver H Mcdaniel 20
Thelma Nelson 13
Evelyn Nelson 12
Margaret Nelson 6
Frank Nelson 10
Dorothy Nelson 8
Jimmy L Ott 5
Alise G Platt 13
Hattie C Platt 10
May R Platt 7
Katherine M Platt 5
Edwin Platt 12
Clarice L Peters 17
Mike C Reagan 10
Mildred Rourke 14
Lesa Rourke 10
Stephen W Rourke 8
Ruth M Roberts 10
Clarence V Roberts 7
Harry L Rawley 11
Charles W Rians 10
Gladys L Ruddock 17
Maybell Reeves 15
Dorothy Reeves 12
Margaret Reeves 9
Ida M Ritchie 16
Bessie Ritchie 14
Daisy Ritchie 12
Margaret Ritchie 11
Lyda D Rice 14
Mamie A Rice 8
Pearl L Risher 12
Jewel S Risher 10
Delores C Risher 7
Erik W Svedberg 17
Jessie E Svedberg 15
Louis T Smith 16
Rudel W Smoak 14
Dorothy D Smoak 12
Homer A Smoak 10
Marian Smoak 8
Julius Scheffegeell 12
Raymond Scheffegeell 8
Charles A Scheffegeell 6
Ruth A Scheffegeell 4
Ruby M Scheffegeell 4 6/12
Harold Simmons 8
James Simmons 6
Arthur Simmons 4 9/12
Rebecca M Scott 19
Marie I Shirah 18
Frank H Strock 12
Gilmore Simms 16
Cleo V Simms 16
Louise M Simms 13
May Simms 11
Rosa M Sineath 14
Robert W Turnes 13
Theodore F Turnes 7
Gladys I Turnes 10
James C Todd 11
Harold E Todd 9
Lillian L Thorpe 19
Margie R Tinkle 17
Flora C Tedder 13

Re: My mom

malapino — 2010-05-09 19:03:04Z

Public information will depend upon when your mother was in an orphanage. Census records for the orphanages are only available up to 1930.

Now, I'm not an expert at this. But this is what I was told when I searched for my dad's records and those of his siblings for the Charleston Orphan House.

Records have a 75-year life term, meaning they are not available PUBLICLY until the records are 75 years old. If you can figure out which orphanage your mother was at and when, you can contact them and either request copies (usually for a fee) and have them sent to you. I also think that you can go in person with your mother's obituary or death certificate, your personal identification and request copies.

The city of Charleston has all the records from the Charleston Orphan House. You may want to contact the records manager there to see if your mother's name comes up. Here is her email address: WELSCHS@ci.charleston.sc.us

Susan Welsch
Records Manager
City of Charleston
Records Management Division
P.O. Box 304
Charleston, SC 29402-0304

This is what I know from my experience with the Charleston Orphan House. I don't know about any other institutions. Privacy laws have affected a lot of the information available.

Good luck. I hope this was somewhat helpful to you.

Re: Looking for South Carolina Orphans 1810

psp190 — 2009-07-01 00:55:43Z

This has little or nothing to do with former S.C orphans but according to my mother, Mary Louise Durham my grand father, John Matherson Durham who was a superintendent at Cannon mills bought the then abandoned Odd Fellows Home during the depression to house his family of a wife and 10 children. There was Ann, Maude Sam Jimmy, Frank, Helen, Mary, (my mother) Ben, Jean and Johnny. My mother said that they lived there until after she left high school in 1936 in order to help support her family by working at Cannon Mills on the sewing line. After WW-II broke out in about 1942, granddad sold the place and she, my grandfather, and my aunt Helen moved to Santa Monica, California to work for Douglas Aircraft.

Does anyone remember them?
John Gertig
psp@frontiernet.net

My mom

janetrussell122 — 2009-06-11 00:57:04Z

My mom passed away 6 months ago. We have no information on her or her family. I have been searching on ancestry.com but to no avail. I do know my mom was an orphan in one of the orphanages in South Carolina, possibly Columbia area. I really need to know her past and any ancestry information. Can anyone give me any advice on how to do this.

Re: 1937 Columbia/Richland County Orphanages

drhbroome — 2009-05-27 10:36:50Z

I am also looking for records from 1951 from this same institution. Did you find out anything in your search for your records? We are trying to find the birth parents for my mom.

Looking for birth parents for mom born in SC orphanage

drhbroome — 2009-05-27 10:36:32Z

My mom was a resident in the Carolina Children's Home in Columbia, SC in 1951 and was adopted to a very nice family in Marion, SC. She was known as Baby Linda and her dob is 9/12/51. It is believed that she was given up for adoption by her mother's family b/c her mother was very young and that she may have been a product of interracial mixing of white and american indian ancestries which wasn't tolerated very well in the South at that time. It is believed that the birth parents were possibly from Mississippi or even southern Louisiana. Possibly even FL. If anyone has any info or can help me in the start of our search to find our birth family I would greatly appreciate it! My mom is very excited to look and hopeful that we can find them. Thanks in advance!

Spartanburg County Orphanage

dmullinnix_1 — 2008-01-29 04:36:39Z

While doing family research on Ancestry.com, I came upon a relative, Van Mullinax Jr. and his sister Helen S. Mullinax in the 1930 census as being inmates at this orphanage. I also found their mother, Ollie Mullinax, widowed and with 2 of her five children. Does anyone know what the history of this orphanage or why these children were given over to an orphanage rather than relatives?

Re: SC Orphanages 1875 to 1900

linda_g_martin — 2007-10-19 21:28:40Z

Just caught my eye. Connie Maxwell Orphanages were and still are in operation. Baptist and in the 1800s were also supported by the Mason's. There is one in Greenville. Apparently, they up and down the coast. I learned yesterday while viewing Census that Charleston had an orphanage...probably still does. That's all I know.

Orphanages in Beaufort, SC

civilian0506 — 2007-07-24 08:37:02Z

I am looking for a listing of orphanages in Beaufort,SC. My grandmother was an orphan in a home there and I am trying to find out about our family we never got to know. thank you

Re: Odd Fellows Orphan Home- Greenville, SC, 1905-1928

carterpjay — 2007-06-10 20:55:50Z

I'm searching for the source of where my father was in early 1920 at age 7 (dob:April 26, 1912). He is listed in the 1930 Federal census as one of two adopted sons of Joseph and Rebecca Carter of Fish Pond Township, Bamberg County, SC. My father was listed as Paul at age 17. Another adopted son Kenneth age 8 (I'm not certain if Kenneth is a biological brother to my father Paul).
The Carter's appear in the 1910 & 1920 Federal census at the same Fish Pond address with no children listed. Would you please let me know if either Paul or Kenneth are listed at the Odd Fellows Orphanage. I have come to believe that my father's surname could have been Chitwood. I have recently been told by my sister that she had found an old bible that belonged to my father (Paul Monroe Carter 1912-1999) that had an entry that may be his biological parents: Gable Chitwood and Lucy Chitwood. I am currently just beginning my search using these names and would appreciate your assistance. Thanks, carterpjay@aol.com

SC Orphanages 1875 to 1900

2006-12-04 01:06:10Z

In researching my Bagwell family tree, I learned that my great-grandfather William Bagwell (and his brother Charlie) was raised in an orphanange sometime after his birth in 1875 until 1900. Afterwards he settled in Anderson, South Carolina.

Does any know what orphanages were in operation in South Carolina during this time? I do not know who William's parents were and thought a search of orphan records might yield something if I had a place to start.

Thanks,
Mark Evans

Re: Odd Fellows Orphan Home- Greenville, SC, 1905-1928

hsricepics — 2006-11-16 03:37:55Z

Can you check to see if James Spencer Rice was a resident? It would have been the early 1920's. THis is my husband's father.
Do you have info on the orphanage itself?
Thanks.
Leisa Rice

Re: Odd Fellows Orphan Home, Greenville, SC

beatjr — 2006-09-24 03:58:24Z

I am trying to find a listing for one of my Great Uncles, who supposedly was in an orphanage in SC. Would you be so kind as to see if there was a Victor Otis Wilson listed in the Odd Fellows Orphanage? Thank you.

Re: 1937 Columbia/Richland County Orphanages

RegNMINiles — 2006-07-02 05:28:57Z

I don't think there are too many directories of children's institutions for the State of South Carolina, but try this one :
South Carolina Legislative Manual.
It might have been published annually.

The problem with orphanage records is not what is the law? The problem is that orphanages no longer exist. Foster family homes have replaced them, except where the child has a problem of some sort.

Carolina Children's Home had a mailing address in 1977: Box 4465, Columbia, SC 29240. It must have kept a low profile because it is missing from some directories. It was picked up in the special census of 1933, which lists no address for it. As far as I know this census only collected statistics, not names of the children. 104 dependent white children were in Carolina Orphan Home in 1933.

Sometimes orphanage records are acquired by historical societies (in the state capital or the county seat) and libraries. Now and then someone creates a web site devoted to an individual institution, and a Google search might find it.

The inhabitants of orphanages are listed in the federal censuses, such as 1930. The 1940 census will be made public 72 years after it was taken.

Reg Niles

Re: 1937 Columbia/Richland County Orphanages

mhussey58 — 2006-03-09 15:09:52Z

I have found out that the Orphanage I am looking for is the Carolina Children's Home. Does anyone know what the legalities of acquiring information is from these homes? At least for SC?

1937 Columbia/Richland County Orphanages

mhussey58 — 2006-02-23 22:43:02Z

Does anyone know where I can get a list of open orphanages and or "group homes" in this area in and about 1937?

Re: Odd Fellows Orphan Home, Greenville, SC

dianehammsciara1952 — 2006-02-11 09:50:38Z

Myrtle Blount was an orphan in some orphanage in SC from 1921 until age 18. She would like to know about her family. She has alzheimers and forgets a lot. The home may have been in Mullins and was a Methodist Home. Her mother was unwed and Myrtle, also called Sally, was born with a severe cleft palate and lip. I love this woman dearly and would like to share some information to her. She was born on August 1921 in Grady Memorial hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and put up for adoption.
Thank you,
Diane
dianehammsciara@aol.com

Re: Lethe

RegNMINiles — 2005-07-21 04:02:32Z

Let me cite a 1904 directory, which may be available in certain libraries :

UNITED STATES. Census, Bureau of the. Benevolent Institutions, 1904. [Washington, D.C.: Govt. Print. Off.], 1905. 335 p. (Special Reports). A directory of 4,207 institutions (excluding 85), with their addresses and statistics: orphanages, hospitals, temporary homes for adults and children, etc. Includes a single alphabetical index to the institutions. (Charities--U.S.) (Hospitals--U.S.) (Orphanages--U.S.) (LC 06002276)

Reg Niles

Kings Mountain - Economy Home for Children

2005-03-18 01:30:34Z

Our ancestor ran this home in the 1920's. Does anyone have any info. or know where records of it might be?
Kings Mountain Orphanage, S,C. (also known as ECONOMY HOME, an orphanage for motherless children which existed in the 1920's.

Re: Lethe

2005-03-17 18:05:09Z

Have you checked the Library of Congress for books written about the Orphanage or books in which the Orphanage is mentioned prior to its burning? Someone at the Library of Congress might be able to help you think of ways to look for information pertaining to this orphanage.

Also, I would try the National Archives in Washington D.C.
You would be amazed at the number of archives in which information is stored.

I did not know where my father came from. But the Old Civil and Military Records archives had a copy of his permit to sail in American waters which led to much needed information.

Lethe

digitalburgers — 2005-01-07 02:21:30Z

I am looking for any information on Lethe (a home for orphans and hard luck children). I am specifically look for information on Ernest Darracott who was born in 1886 and is listed at Lethe in the 1900 census. Ernest's two cousins were also at Lethe -- Garland Hobbs and Bertha Hobbs. Lethe's records burned, so they are not able to provide me with any information. I am hoping that a family out there would have some records of their own about Lethe or Ernest.

Odd Fellows Orphan Home- Greenville, SC, 1905-1928

ecsimpson — 2003-12-09 03:13:30Z

I am researching the Odd Fellows Orphan Home, which existed in Greenville, SC, between 1905 and 1928. I have a list of the orphans who were residents there between 1905 and 1915. Please email me and I'll see if I can help. E C Simpson

Looking for South Carolina Orphans 1810

2002-08-07 12:45:32Z

Looking for any info on how to contact the orphan list from South Carolina , Halifax county in 1810 , If any one knows what to do please help me looking for parents of gggrandmother............ Tammy