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.

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Submissions from 1883

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Remark from James H. Rion, 1883 November 6

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Rent returns for year 1883

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Typed memo of personal affects by Thomas G. Clemson, 1883 August 13

Submissions from 1884

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Envelope from H. M. Stevenson to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 June 25

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Latter from James H. Rion to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 May 27

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Letter from A.M. Sherman to unknown recipient, 1884 July 31

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Letter from A.M. Sturnim to Tom, 1884 June 12

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Letter from Catherine to brother, 1884

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Letter from Colonel Pinckney Starke to James Rion, 1884 September 9

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Letter from Floride Lee to her grandfather, 1884 February 7

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Letter from Floride Lee to her grandfather, 1884 January 5

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Letter from Floride Lee to her Grandfather, 1884 July 26

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Letter from Floride Lee to her grandfather, 1884 May 10

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Letter from Gideon Lee to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 August 8

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Letter from Gideon Lee to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 July 22

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Letter from Gideon Lee to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 September 18

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Letter from Gideon Lee to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 September 26

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Letter from Gideon Lee to unknown recipient, 1884 February 21

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Letter from H.C. Miller to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 November 10

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Letter from Henry Trescot to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 December 21

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Letter from James H. Rion to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 April 26

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Letter from James H. Rion to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 December 18

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Letter from James H. Rion to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 July 31

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Letter from James H. Rion to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 July 5

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Letter from James H. Rion to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 June 4

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Letter from James H. Rion to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 May 27

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Letter from James H. Rion to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 November 4

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Letter from James H. Rion to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 October 27

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Letter from James H. Rion to Thomas G. Clemson concerning land ownership, 1884 September 6

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Letter from Mary C. Rion to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 July 13

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Letter from Mary C. Rion to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 July 20

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Letter from Rion's Law Office to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 December 9

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Letter from Rion's Law Office to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 January 5

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Letter from Rion's Law Office to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 October 27

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Letter from T.C. North to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 May 26

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Letter from the Fidelity Insurance Trust and Safe Deposit company to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 June 3

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Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1884 September 7

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Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to J. D. Smith, 1884 June 30

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Letter from unknown sender addressed to the Postmaster, 1884 July 25

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Letter from unknown sender to her brother, 1884 March 4

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Letter from unknown sender to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 July 31

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Letter from W.B. Starke to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 April 2

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Letter from W.B. Starke to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 March 23

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Letter from W.B. Starke to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 May 29

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Letter to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884

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List of account balances of Thomas G. Clemson and W.B. Jackson, 1884 February 10

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Notice from Rion's Law Office, 1884 November 17

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Postal card from unknown sender to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 April 24

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Postal card from W.B. Starke to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 January 11

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Typed letter from A.P. Butler to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 May 21

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Typed letter from Colonel Pinckny Starke to James. H. Rion, 1884 september 29

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Typed letter from James H. Rion to Thomas G. Clemson, 1884 December 18

Submissions from 1885

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Letter from Attorney, J.S. Murray, to Thomas G. Clemson, 1885 July 16

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Letter from Floride Lee to her grandfather, 1885 February 20

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Letter from Floride Lee to her grandfather, 1885 July 4

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Letter from Floride Lee to her grandfather, 1885 June 6

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Letter from Floride Lee to her grandfather, 1885 November 30

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Letter from Floride Lee to her grandfather, 1885 November 7

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Letter from James H. Rion to Thomas G. Clemson, 1885 December 19

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Letter from James H. Rion to Thomas G. Clemson, 1885 December 26

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Letter from James H. Rion to Thomas G. Clemson, 1885 July 11

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Letter from James H. Rion to Thomas G. Clemson, 1885 November 2

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Letter from L.C. Baker to Thomas G. Clemson, 1885 December 28

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Letter from Rion's Law Office to Thomas G. Clemson, 1885 December 21

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Letter from Rion's Law Office to Thomas G. Clemson, 1885 July 11

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Letter from Rion's Law Office to Thomas G. Clemson, 1885 November 2

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Letter from T.C. North to Thomas G. Clemson, 1885 July 6

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Letter from the Office of State's Attorney toThomas G. Clemson, 1885 August 8

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Letter from the Office of State's Attorney to Thomas G. Clemson, 1885 September 29

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Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Mrs. E. P. Noble, 1885

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Letter from W. Pinckney Starke to Salley Noble, 1885 August 28

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Letter from W. Pinckney Starke to Thomas G. Clemson, 1885 July 25

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Letter from W. Pinckney Starke to unknown recipient, 1885 October 1

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Letter from W. Pinckney Starke to unnamed Colonel, 1885 October 25

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Letter from W. Pinckny Starke to Thomas G. Clemson, 1885 May 31

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Letter from W.W. Corcoran to Thomas G. Clemson, 1885 November 26

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Letter to Thomas G. Clemson from unknown recipient, 1885 October 16

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List of securities received from Thomas G. Clemson, 1885 December 21

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Receipt of payment from Treasurer's Office to Thomas G. Clemson, 1885 March 30

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Typed letter from W. Pinckney Starke to Mrs. E.P. Noble, 1885 August 28

Submissions from 1886

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Envelope addressed to Thomas G. Clemson, 1886

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First half of letter from Thomas Darris to Thomas G. Clemson, 1886 October 14

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First half of letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Gideon Lee, 1886 March 29

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Last Will and Testament of Thomas G. Clemson, 1886 November 6

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Letter from Floride Lee to her grandfather, 1886 August 28

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Letter from Floride Lee to her grandfather, 1886 December 18

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Letter from Floride Lee to her grandfather, 1886 February 20

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Letter from Floride Lee to her grandfather, 1886 February 27

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Letter from Floride Lee to her grandfather, 1886 January 30

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Letter from Floride Lee to her grandfather, 1886 July 7

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Letter from Floride Lee to her grandfather, 1886 June 12

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Letter from Floride Lee to her grandfather, 1886 March 20

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Letter from Floride Lee to her grandfather, 1886 March 27

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Letter from Floride Lee to her grandfather, 1886 March 29

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Letter from Floride Lee to her grandfather, 1886 May 8

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Letter from Gideon Lee to Thomas G. Clemson, 1886 April 20

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Letter from Gideon Lee to Thomas G. Clemson, 1886 October 3

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Letter from Gideon Lee to unknown recipient, 1886 July 14

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Letter from Jackson Seufferle to Thomas G. Clemson, 1886 July 29

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Letter from Jackson Seufferle to Thomas G. Clemson, 1886 May 11