The Yorkville Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1978 to foster and promote historical preservation and restoration in the city of York, SC, and its surrounding area.
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York County Library Genealogy & Family History Expo
Registration opens: Thursday, October 1 at 9:00 a.m.
Hands-on workshops: Friday, October 23 at 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Main conference: Saturday, October 24 at 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Courtyard by Marriott
1385 Broadcloth Street, Fort Mill, SC
Have you ever wanted to research your family tree or improve your genealogy skills? Then mark your calendar for the annual Genealogy & Family History Expo. You’ll find a variety of areas of interest among the workshops, presentations, and exhibitors (including the YHS). Use this link for more information.
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New Genealogy Resource
Check out the latest addition to the “Resources” tab on our website: A Beginner’s Guide to Family History, Keepsakes, and Heritage Pins. This guide includes an introduction to genealogy, as well as a number of websites for more information.
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Social Mixer
Friday, October 23 at 6:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Grapevine Wine Shop | Wine Bar
22 North Congress Street, York, SC
Join us for this year’s Social Mixer at the Grapevine! You’ll hear about our plans for the coming year and how to support our work to preserve history. We’re open to anyone from York or the surrounding communities. Light snacks will be provided with wine and beer available for purchase.
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Our Next General Membership Meeting
Thursday, September 24 at 7:00 p.m.
Church of the Good Shepherd
108 East Liberty Street, York, SC
Detail about our next meeting will be posted here once they are available.
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Christmas in Olde York
Saturday, December 12 at 12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.
York Historic District
York, SC
Be sure to save the date for our Christmas tour. Ticket and tour information should be available after November 1.
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YHS Meetings
General Membership Meeting Information
Our general membership meetings are usually held at 7:00 p.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd. Details will be posted on this website, and a notice emailed to our email distribution list. See information below if you would like to be added to our email distribution list.
The Church of the Good Shepherd is located at 108 East Liberty Street, York, SC. (From East Liberty Street, turn onto Trinity Street. Turn left into the parking lot. Enter the Parish Hall through the right-hand door that faces Trinity Street.)
2026 Schedule
- November 19 – General Membership Meeting
- December: Christmas in Olde York Saturday and Sunday, December 12–13
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Send us an email: yorkvillehistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Get on our email notifications list: You can use this link to sign up for updates and notices of our upcoming events. You can unsubscribe at any time.
See more information on our Facebook page.
YHS Membership
Follow this link for more information on YHS memberships.
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Research Requests
The Yorkville Historical Society has no archives, genealogical records, or research staff.
A great resource for your genealogical and historical research inquiries is the Historical Center of York County. The Historical Center of York County opened in 1989 to serve as York County’s archival repository to collect and preserve information of historical importance and is located at 210 East Jefferson Street, York, SC. Use this link to find out how to submit your research request to the Historical Center of York County, or check the YHS resources page for other options.
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-> A Guide to Olde York: The White Rose Tour—Our wonderful tour book has fascinating information and pictures about York and its history. Follow this link to find out how to get your copy.
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Divine Savior Hospital and
the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy South Carolina
Historical Marker
The Yorkville Historical Society is pleased to have submitted an application in July of 2025 for a historical marker recognizing the Divine Savior Hospital and the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy.
In 1938, four Sisters from the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in Charleston—Mary Martha, Margaret Mary, Felicitas, and Gertrude—arrived in York to provide much-needed healthcare, thanks to Mrs. Church Carroll’s generous donation of her home on Congress Street. They quickly established a clinic and residence that became the foundation for Divine Saviour Hospital, with the first hospital building completed in 1942. Renamed the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy in 1949, the congregation was known for its compassionate, hands-on care, exemplified by the tireless Sister Gertrude. Their work marked a turning point in medical services for Western York County. Due to declining numbers, the Sisters transferred the hospital to Bon Secours in 1989; by 1991, emergency services had ceased, and the facility was sold to White Oak Manor, which now operates as a nursing home.
Because of a very large backlog of pending historical marker applications, it will likely be 6-9 months from out submission in July 2025 before work will begin on our application.
Use this link for additional information.