Thomas Green Clemson demonstrated versatility in his varied activities as a mining engineer, government official, plantation owner, scientist, proponent of higher education, artist and art collector, and supporter of scientific farming. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Clemson adopted South Carolina as his home after marrying Anna Maria Calhoun, the oldest daughter of the South Carolina statesman John C. Calhoun. Little is known of Clemson’s early life other than that his father was a well-to-do merchant in Philadelphia. Clemson attended public schools in Philadelphia and the American Literary, Scientific and Military Academy in Norwich, Vermont.
The papers of Thomas G. Clemson were kept after his death by his attorney, Richard W. Simpson. Following Simpson’s death, his daughter, Maria Louise, took possession of the Clemson papers. In 1915 or 1916 Miss Simpson turned the papers over to her brother-in-law, Professor Alester G. Holmes, who recognized their historical importance and the need to have them properly cared for. In 1947, Maria Louise Simpson formally donated the papers to Clemson University. Information regarding the provenance of the Clemson Papers can be found in Box 7, Folder 5 of this collection and in the Alester G. Holmes Collection, Mss 1, Box 1, Folder 3, 1930- 1935. In 2000 photocopies of Clemson family correspondence to Elias Baker, Clemson’s uncle, were obtained from the Blair County (PA) Historical Society in exchange for copies of the Baker correspondence in the collection. The collection also includes accessions 93-25, 03-97, 06-40 and 06-45.
Clemson Papers are closely related to the John C. Calhoun Papers (Mss 200), the Richard K. Cralle Papers (Mss 109), the Holmes Collection and the Richard W. Simpson Papers (Mss 96). There are no restrictions on the use of this collection beyond those of Special Collections.
Submissions from 1823
Instructions by John B. Clemson to Thomas G. Clemson, 1823 August 23
Invitation to Thomas G. Clemson, 1823 August 23
Letter from John B. Clemson to Thomas G. Clemson, 1823 August 23
Submissions from 1828
Transcription of letter August 29, 1828
Submissions from 1829
Letter September 12, 1829, Robert
Submissions from 1830
Typed draft of letter from Thomas G. Clemson to brother, 1830's
Submissions from 1832
Deed from Richard Banks to David Gibson, Richard Banks
Deed of Conveyance from John Banks to Andrew P Calhoun, John Banks
Deed of Conveyance from Joseph R to Andrew P Calhoun, Joseph
Letter draft to "Dear Father" from Thomas G. Clemson
Photocopy of Trial of Lucretia Chapman
Submissions from 1833
Bond from Elizabeth Clemson promising to pay Thomas G. Clemson a sum of $2,500, Elizabeth C. Clemson
Court document concerning lot 817, George Pearson and Perry
Deed of Conveyance from David C Gibson to John C Calhoun and John E Colhoun of a gold mine, David C. Gibson
Submissions from 1835
Deed for interest in lot 817 from Pinkney Caldwell to John C Calhoun, Pinkney Caldwell
Sheriff's deed in regards to a lot of land sold to John C. Calhoun, Sheriff Samuel King
Submissions from 1836
Sheriff's deed in regards to a lot of land sold to John C. Calhoun, Sheriff John Field
Submissions from 1837
Handwritten copy of an agreement between Peatte, Linn, and Clemson concerning a mine
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to unnamed elder, 1837 February 1
Typed letter draft from Thomas G. Clemson to aunt, 1837 January 24
Submissions from 1838
Letter, August 13, 1838, from Thomas Green Clemson to Anna Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, August 16, 1838, from Thomas Green Clemson to P.H. Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, August 19, 1838, from Thomas Green Clemson to Anna Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, August 5, 1838, from Thomas Green Clemson to Anna Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, July 22, 1838, from Thomas Green Clemson to Anna Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Submissions from 1839
Clemson, Thomas G. Papers 1839
Letter, February 8, 1839, from Thomas Green Clemson to Andrew Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, May 3, 1839, from Thomas Green Clemson to Anna Clemson, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, November 10, 1839, from Thomas Green Clemson to Andrew Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, November 28, 1839, from Thomas Green Clemson to James E Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, November 28, 1839, from Thomas Green Clemson to James E Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Submissions from 1840
Clemson, Thomas G. Papers - Thomas Green Clemson to Elias Baker. 1840 - 1842, 1848, 1852 - 1855
Clemson, Thomas G. Papers - William F. Clemson to Elias Baker. 1840, 1844 - 1846, 1854 - 1858
Letter, December 7, 1840, from George Patterson to Thomas Green Clemson, George Patterson
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1840 September 19
Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1840 January 28
Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1850 December 14
Submissions from 1841
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson, 1841 February 19
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson, 1841 January 16
Submissions from 1842
Legal document binding Clemson to a debt
Letter, August 20, 1842, from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, August 25, 1842, from Thomas Green Clemson to James E Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, February 19, 1842, from Thomas Green Clemson to James Edward Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson, 1842 July 29
Letter, July 25, 1842, from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, July 31, 1842, from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, July 9, 1842, from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, June 22, 1842, from John C Calhoun to Thomas Green Clemson, John C. Calhoun
Letter, June 23, 1842, from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, June 30, 1842, from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, October 19, 1842, from Richard Banks to John C Calhoun, Richard Banks
Plat of Part of Chillum Castle Manor, Rick Beall
Transcript, July 16, 1842, of letter from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Submissions from 1843
Letter, December 12, 1843, from Thomas Green Clemson to Andrew P Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, December 21, 1843, from Thomas Green Clemson to Andrew P Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, February 7, 1843, from Thomas Green Clemson to James Edward Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, January 23, 1843, from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun
Letter, January 29, 1843, from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, January 8, 1843, from Thomas Green Clemson to James Edward Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, March 25, 1843, from Thomas Green Clemson to James Edward Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Submissions from 1844
Gold and the Gold Region, The Orion, April 1844 Photocopy, The Orion
Letter, 1844, from J.B. Brackett to Thomas Green Clemson, J.B. Brackett
Letter from Judges Cheeves, Charleston Mercury, Photocopy 1844
Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1844 July 4
Statement of account between John C Calhoun, Andrew P Calhoun, and Thomas Green Clemson, John C. Calhoun
Submissions from 1845
Letter, February 25, 1845, from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1845 April 4
Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1845 August 23
Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1845 July 3
Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1845 October 30
Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1845 September 6
Submissions from 1846
Clemson, Thomas G. Papers 1845-1847
Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1846 March 17
Submissions from 1847
Letter, October 14, 1847, from Thomas Green Clemson to Mr. Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Shipping receipt from Antwerp, Belgium to Edgefield Court House, South Carolina for painting
Submissions from 1848
Clemson, Thomas G. Papers 1848-1849
Letter, April 26, 1848, from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, Februrary 13, 1848, from William Calhoun to John Calhoun Clemson, William Calhoun
Letter, March 26, 1848, to John Calhoun Clemson, Vesey
Submissions from 1849
Clemson, Thomas G. Papers 1848-1849
Letter to Thomas Green Clemson
Submissions from 1850
Clemson, Thomas G. Papers January 1850-May 1850
Clemson, Thomas G. Papers January 1850-May 1850
Clemson, Thomas G. Papers July 1850-December 1850
Copy of Agreement, August 30, 1850
Letter, April 2, 1850, to Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, April 23, 1850, to Mrs. Calhoun
Letter, August 11, 1850, from Floride Calhoun to Floride Clemson, Floride Calhoun
Letter, December 15, 1850, from Thomas Green Clemson to Anna Clemson
Letter, February 19, 1850, to Thomas Green Clemson
Letter from Babette Sauer to Floride Clemson, 1850 September 13
Letter from J. Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1850's
Letter, January 25, 1850, to Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, October 1, 1850, to Thomas Green Clemson
Transcript of letter, August 11, 1850, from Floride Calhoun to Floride Clemson
Transcript of letter, August 24, 1850, from Thomas Green Clemson to W.W. Corcoran
Transcript of letter, May 20, 1850, from Armistead Burt to Thomas Green Clemson, Armistead Burt