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 1959

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Notes in regard to the will of Thomas G. Clemson by Mary L. M. Ritchie, 1959 August 3

Submissions from 1960

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Clemson Alumni News, 1960 April

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Clemson class reunions, 1960 June

Submissions from 1962

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Poem to J. E. C. from W. D. L., 1862 April 19

Submissions from 1965

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Letter from Agnes H. Elrod to Mr. Gourley, 1965 February 10

Submissions from 1966

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Letter from Joseph S. Hepburn to Samuel Littlejohn, 1966 February 14

Submissions from 1968

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Note to librarian, 1968 February 23

Submissions from 1975

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Reply from Jerry N. Hess to Priscilla H. Sutcliffe about post office at Fort Hill, 1975 October 28

Submissions from 1977

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Memo from Mary Frances Spearman to Priscilla, 1977 May 20

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Table of contents by Charles E. Lee, 1977 July 7

Submissions from 1978

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Letter from Jacqueline S. Painter to Dr. Robert C. Edwards, 1978 January 12

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Letter from Jacqueline S. Painter to Priscilla H. Sutcliffe, 1978 February 22

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Letter from Jacqueline S. Painter to Robert C. Edwards, 1978 January 12

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Letter from Priscilla H. Sutcliffe to George M. Moore, 1978 January 30

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Note on the diploma of Thomas G. Clemson, 1978 January 30

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Nowich University Its Founder and His Ideals by Major Gen. Ernest N. Harmon, 1978 March 6

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Report to Clemson History Associates, 1978

Submissions from 1979

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Letter from Charles R. Clemson to E. M. Landers, Jr., 1979 April 27

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Letter from Charles R. Clemson to J. W. Gordon Gourlay, 1979 August 4

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Letter from Charles R. Clemson to J. W. Gordon Gourlay, 1979 November 14 and list of descendants of Thomas G. Clemson

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Letter from J. W. Gordon Gourlay to Charles R. Clemson, 1979 November 26

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List of letter enclosures to Robert Muldrow Cooper Library, 1979 October

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Newsletter No. 3 by Daniel R. Clemson, 1979 March 7

Submissions from 1980

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Typed note from Priscilla H. Sutcliffe, 1980 May 27

Submissions from 1988

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Headline by Hanna Rion on the life of John C. Calhoun, 1988 August 16

Submissions from 2009

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Special collections removal sheet, 2009 June 25

Submissions from 2020

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"A Famous Old Song" by Warrow R. Duin

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Agricultural report about fertilizers by Thomas G. Clemson

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Agricultural report about magnesia by Thomas G. Clemson

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Agricultural report about marl by Thomas G. Clemson

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Agricultural report about phosphorus by Thomas G. Clemson

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Agricultural report about plaster or gypsum by Thomas G. Clemson

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Agricultural report about sulphuric acid and barytes by Thomas G. Clemson

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Album and diary

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Article on Thomas G. Clemson

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A sketch of early Church History

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Attorney's office document

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Aunt Friendly's Books reading list

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Back of envelope from Dr. Doyle

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Back of envelope from Thomas G. Clemson

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Baker Mansion post card

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Baker Mansion trifold pamphlet

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Blank paper addressed to Thomas G. Clemson

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Brief sketch of the life of Thomas G. Clemson

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Bulletin about Elias Baker Mansion written by Floyd G. Hoenstine, 1944 February

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Business letter from Charles Leupp to Thomas G. Clemson

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Clemsons of Pennsylvania family tree

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Clemson testimony by Chapman Peirs

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Conditions of lease

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Contents of Volume V of the Works of Calhoun

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Crossed out "Notify" slip

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Damaged letter to Anna Clemson

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Envelope addressed to French recipient

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Envelope addressed to Michel Chevalier

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Envelope of letter from Thomas G. Clemson

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Essay on suffrage

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Essay on Thomas G. Clemson

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Extract from "The Civil War Record of William O. Dundas"

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Family tree of the Clemsons

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Fragment of letter to Maria Louise Simpson, September 15

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Historical account of Thomas G. Clemson

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History of Norwich University

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Information on Fort Osage

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Invitation from friends to Floride Clemson

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Lengthy letter

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Letter from Annie to Anna Clemson, August 24

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Letter from C. A. Cealoest to Anna Clemson

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Letter from Charles Leupp to Thomas G. Clemson concerning money to be sent to Max Vanderberg

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Letter from C. M. North to Floride Clemson, January 8

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Letter from C. M. North to Floride Clemson, June 6

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Letter from C. M. North to Floride Clemson, March 8

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Letter from C. S. [illegible] to Anna Clemson, May 19

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Letter from E. Duvall to Anna Clemson

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Letter from Elizabeth Barton to Floride Clemson, July

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Letter from E. Suraed to Anna Clemson

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Letter from F. Clemson to Floride and Sauny

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Letter from G. H. Durnam to Floride

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Letter from G. H. Dursomb to Anna Clemson

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Letter from [illegible], April 28

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Letter from J. Bowie

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Letter from J. C. Calhoun to N. A. Brown

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Letter from J. C. Clemson to Thomas G. Clemson, August 7

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Letter from J. E. Calhoun, November 8

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Letter from Kate C. Barton, April 12

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Letter from Kate C. Barton, July 20

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Letter from Kate C. Barton to cousin, July 20

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Letter from Kate C. Barton to cousin, May 17

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Letter from Kate C. Barton to cousin, November 26

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Letter from Kate C. Barton to cousin, October 16

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Letter from Kate C. Barton to cousin, September 15

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Letter from Kate C. Barton to cousin, September 24

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Letter from Kate C. Barton to cousin, September 6

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Letter from Kate C. Barton to Floride, August 23

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Letter from Kate C. Barton to Floride, December 16

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Letter from Kate C. Barton to Floride, December 30

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Letter from Kate C. Barton to Floride, June 20

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Letter from Kate C. Barton to Floride, March 15

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Letter from Kate C. Barton to Floride, March 24

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Letter from Kate C. Barton to Floride, November 18

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Letter from Kate C. Barton to Floride, November 5