Photo courtesy of ncecho.org

NORTH CAROLINA & LOCAL HISTORY ROOM
Carolyn T. High Memorial Library
Whiteville, North Carolina

Hours
Mon - Thu  9:00am to 8:00pm
Fri  9:00am to 5:00pm 
Sat  10:30am to 5:00pm
Closed on Sunday

A wealth of historical and genealogical resources are available at the Carolyn T. High Memorial Library in Whiteville, North Carolina.  Concentrating on the history and genealogy of Columbus County, North Carolina and her surrounding counties, most of these materials are available in the Alice C. Lowe North Carolina and Local History Room.  All visitors are asked to sign in at the reference desk before using the materials this room.

   Note: The links below, are to an external web-site that is not controlled or reviewed by Columbus County

   Materials on the following counties are color coded throughout the collection for easy retrieval. Look for the color code chart when you enter the room.

   North Carolina:  Bladen County (red), Brunswick County (yellow) , Columbus County(dark blue), New Hanover County and all of the Cape Fear region (light blue), Robeson County (white), and Sampson County(purple)

   South Carolina: Horry County (orange), and Marion County and all of the Pee Dee region (green)
  
   Census microfilm and indexes
   Columbus County Commissioner Minutes
   Columbus County genealogy references
   Columbus County history
   Columbus County vertical file
   Genealogy and Family History vertical file
   Genealogy journals and newsletters
   Maps & 1930 census tract maps
   Horry & Marion, SC references
   Local newspapers on microfilm (1924+)
   Microfilm readers and printers
   Newspaper indexes (1924-1994+)
   NC and genealogy books on microfiche
   North Carolina genealogy references
   NC vertical file
   South Carolina genealogy references
   World War II Veteran Interviews on Video, also available in digital format at http://capefearww2.uncwil.edu

   Our microfilm cabinet contains all available census records on Columbus County and many of the surrounding counties.

   The Leon S. Hollingsworth Genealogical Card File is a special collection on 16mm reels.

   The North Carolina Vertical File is divided into five sections: 

• Columbus County (CC)
• North Carolina (NC)
• Family history (F)
• Genealogy (G)
• Miscellaneous newspapers (NSP)

   Many of these materials are rare and too valuable to circulate.  In order to locate materials in these files, in the North Carolina Room, click on “Vertical File Index” on the Newspaper Index computer, press “S” for search, “S” for screen, and type in your keyword. See Alice Soles or the specialist at the reference desk for more assistance.

   Current projects contintuing the index of The News Reporter, and creating a database of Military Serviceman records from World War I and World War II.  If anyone finds working at a computer relaxing and is interested in local history and people, please contact Alice at 641-3979 or alicesoles@columbusco.org.

   In order to be a comprehensive resource for local history and genealogy, we need your assistance.  Please send us copies of family histories, school annuals, church histories and directories, annual reports of local companies and organizations, etc.  All donated materials subject to our collection policy and are much appreciated.