Records of the field offices for the state of South Carolina, Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, 1865-1872

Records, 1865-1872, of the S.C. field offices of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands, including previously unfilmed records of the Office of the Assistant Commissioner, and records of the offices of staff officers, subordinate officers, and subordinate field offices. These records consist of bound volumes and unbound records, including letters and endorsements sent and received, orders and circulars, monthly reports, and other records relating to complaints and claims of freedmen.

Volumes consist of letters and endorsements sent and received, registers of letters received, unregistered letters received, general and special orders and circulars recieved, registers of bounties and pay arrearages, and registers of indentures of apprenticeship.

Unbound documents consist of letters and orders received, unregistered letters received and narrative reports received, special orders and circulars issued, general and special orders and circulars received, and other series.

Several series in this collection were created 1862-1864, prior to formation of the Bureau, by Union military commanders and U.S. Treasury agents, and included in the Bureau records. Some volumes include more than one type of record, reflecting a common recording practice of clerks and staff officers of that period. Researchers should read carefully the records descriptions and arrangements in the table of contents filmed at beginning of each roll to make full use of these records.