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 2020

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Letter from Kate C. Barton to Floride, September 17

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Letter from Kate C. Barton to Floride, September 7

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Letter from Leslie Lee, September 14

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Letter from Mattie to Anna Clemson

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Letter from M. E. D. to Floride, January 21

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Letter from M. Latrole to Floride Clemson, July 11

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Letter from M. Smith to Thomas G. Clemson

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Letter from Patrick Calhoun to Anna Clemson

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Letter from P. Calhoun to Anna Clemson, April 30

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Letter from P. Calhoun to Floride Clemson

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Letter from P. Calhoun to Thomas G. Clemson

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Letter from Thomas G. Clemson

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Letter from unknown sender, 1850's September 15

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Letter from unknown sender to unknown recipient,

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Letter in French

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Letters and article

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Letters and receipts

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Letters and reports

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Letters to and from J. W. Gordon Gourlay

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Letter to Anna Clemson

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Letter to Anna Clemson, 1860's

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Letter to Floride and Sauny

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Letter to Floride Clemson, March 20

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Letter to Mrs. Cornish

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Letter to Samuel Stephens Dahlonega

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Letter to Thomas G. Clemson

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List of questions for Congress

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Newspaper article about Clemson University

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Note about Columbus Hood

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Note addressed to Anna Clemson

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Note and shirt sketches

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Note fragment

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Note from Elias Baker

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Note from Lizzie Duvall to Anna Clemson

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Note in memory of Thomas Clemson

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Note to Anna Clemson

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Note to M. Landford

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Notify for Adams

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Notify Special Collections

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Obituary of John C. Calhoun

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Page of citations

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Poem "Long Time Ago"

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Prince George's County, Maryland map

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Receipt and address book of Thomas G. Clemson

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Receipt of Floride Clemson

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Record of Clemson Collection of Paintings

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Record of letters

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Record of the Calhouns and Clemsons by Margaret Calhoun

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Short essay describing the life of Thomas G. Clemson

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Short note from unknown author

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Short note from unknown sender

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Short note to Sam and receipt

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Site report finances of Fort Hill

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Special Collections removal sheet

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Thank you letter from Charles Leupp to Thomas G. Clemson

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"The Evening Star" by W. D. Wallach

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"The Will and Codicil of Thomas G. Clemson"

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"Thomas G. Clemson, His Influence in Developing Land-Grant Colleges" by Robert F. Poole

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Typed essay on suffrage

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Typed speech on suffrage

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Undated receipts

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Various receipts

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Wedding invitation from E. O. Alexander, October 28