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 1959
Notes in regard to the will of Thomas G. Clemson by Mary L. M. Ritchie, 1959 August 3
Submissions from 1960
Clemson Alumni News, 1960 April
Clemson class reunions, 1960 June
Submissions from 1962
Poem to J. E. C. from W. D. L., 1862 April 19
Submissions from 1965
Letter from Agnes H. Elrod to Mr. Gourley, 1965 February 10
Submissions from 1966
Letter from Joseph S. Hepburn to Samuel Littlejohn, 1966 February 14
Submissions from 1968
Note to librarian, 1968 February 23
Submissions from 1975
Reply from Jerry N. Hess to Priscilla H. Sutcliffe about post office at Fort Hill, 1975 October 28
Submissions from 1977
Memo from Mary Frances Spearman to Priscilla, 1977 May 20
Table of contents by Charles E. Lee, 1977 July 7
Submissions from 1978
Letter from Jacqueline S. Painter to Dr. Robert C. Edwards, 1978 January 12
Letter from Jacqueline S. Painter to Priscilla H. Sutcliffe, 1978 February 22
Letter from Jacqueline S. Painter to Robert C. Edwards, 1978 January 12
Letter from Priscilla H. Sutcliffe to George M. Moore, 1978 January 30
Note on the diploma of Thomas G. Clemson, 1978 January 30
Nowich University Its Founder and His Ideals by Major Gen. Ernest N. Harmon, 1978 March 6
Report to Clemson History Associates, 1978
Submissions from 1979
Letter from Charles R. Clemson to E. M. Landers, Jr., 1979 April 27
Letter from Charles R. Clemson to J. W. Gordon Gourlay, 1979 August 4
Letter from J. W. Gordon Gourlay to Charles R. Clemson, 1979 November 26
List of letter enclosures to Robert Muldrow Cooper Library, 1979 October
Newsletter No. 3 by Daniel R. Clemson, 1979 March 7
Submissions from 1980
Typed note from Priscilla H. Sutcliffe, 1980 May 27
Submissions from 1988
Headline by Hanna Rion on the life of John C. Calhoun, 1988 August 16
Submissions from 2009
Special collections removal sheet, 2009 June 25
Submissions from 2020
"A Famous Old Song" by Warrow R. Duin
Agricultural report about fertilizers by Thomas G. Clemson
Agricultural report about magnesia by Thomas G. Clemson
Agricultural report about marl by Thomas G. Clemson
Agricultural report about phosphorus by Thomas G. Clemson
Agricultural report about plaster or gypsum by Thomas G. Clemson
Agricultural report about sulphuric acid and barytes by Thomas G. Clemson
A sketch of early Church History
Aunt Friendly's Books reading list
Back of envelope from Dr. Doyle
Back of envelope from Thomas G. Clemson
Baker Mansion trifold pamphlet
Blank paper addressed to Thomas G. Clemson
Brief sketch of the life of Thomas G. Clemson
Bulletin about Elias Baker Mansion written by Floyd G. Hoenstine, 1944 February
Business letter from Charles Leupp to Thomas G. Clemson
Clemsons of Pennsylvania family tree
Clemson testimony by Chapman Peirs
Contents of Volume V of the Works of Calhoun
Damaged letter to Anna Clemson
Envelope addressed to French recipient
Envelope addressed to Michel Chevalier
Envelope of letter from Thomas G. Clemson
Extract from "The Civil War Record of William O. Dundas"
Fragment of letter to Maria Louise Simpson, September 15
Historical account of Thomas G. Clemson
Invitation from friends to Floride Clemson
Letter from Annie to Anna Clemson, August 24
Letter from C. A. Cealoest to Anna Clemson
Letter from Charles Leupp to Thomas G. Clemson concerning money to be sent to Max Vanderberg
Letter from C. M. North to Floride Clemson, January 8
Letter from C. M. North to Floride Clemson, June 6
Letter from C. M. North to Floride Clemson, March 8
Letter from C. S. [illegible] to Anna Clemson, May 19
Letter from E. Duvall to Anna Clemson
Letter from Elizabeth Barton to Floride Clemson, July
Letter from E. Suraed to Anna Clemson
Letter from F. Clemson to Floride and Sauny
Letter from G. H. Durnam to Floride
Letter from G. H. Dursomb to Anna Clemson
Letter from [illegible], April 28
Letter from J. C. Calhoun to N. A. Brown
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Thomas G. Clemson, August 7
Letter from J. E. Calhoun, November 8
Letter from Kate C. Barton, April 12
Letter from Kate C. Barton, July 20
Letter from Kate C. Barton to cousin, July 20
Letter from Kate C. Barton to cousin, May 17
Letter from Kate C. Barton to cousin, November 26
Letter from Kate C. Barton to cousin, October 16
Letter from Kate C. Barton to cousin, September 15
Letter from Kate C. Barton to cousin, September 24
Letter from Kate C. Barton to cousin, September 6
Letter from Kate C. Barton to Floride, August 23
Letter from Kate C. Barton to Floride, December 16
Letter from Kate C. Barton to Floride, December 30
Letter from Kate C. Barton to Floride, June 20
Letter from Kate C. Barton to Floride, March 15
Letter from Kate C. Barton to Floride, March 24
Letter from Kate C. Barton to Floride, November 18
Letter from Kate C. Barton to Floride, November 5