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 1850
Transcript of letter, October 1, 1850, from Floride Calhoun to Anna Clemson
Submissions from 1851
Clemson, Thomas G. Papers 1851
Letter, 1851, to Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, April 4, 1851, from Abbot Lawrence to Thomas Green Clemson, Abbot Lawrence
Letter, August 22, 1851, from Thomas Green Clemson to James Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, December 24, 1851, to Thomas Green and Anna Clemson
Letter, January 1, 1851, from Floride Calhoun to Anna Clemson, Floride Calhoun
Letter, July 1, 1851, to Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, July 12, 1851, to Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, September 5, 1851, to Thomas Green and Anna Clemson
Money to Thomas Green and Anna Clemson after John C Calhoun's death
Portion of letter, December 29, 1851, to Thomas Green Clemson, Gourdin
Submissions from 1852
Letter, 1852, from Gourdin to Thoms Green Clemson, Gourdin
Letter, February 15, 1852, from Thomas Green Clemson to James Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1852
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1852 August 16
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1852 August 6
Letter, January 25, 1852, to Thomas Green and Anna Clemson
Letter, January 26, 1852, to Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, January 31, 1852, to Thomas Green Clemson, Gourdin
Letter, January 7, 1852, to Thomas Green and Anna Clemson
Letter, March 19, 1852, from Thomas Green Clemson to James Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson
Letter, March 30, 1852, to Thomas Green Clemson, Gourdin
Letter, March 3, 1852, to Thomas Green Clemson
Submissions from 1853
Clemson, Thomas G. Papers 1853-April 1853
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1853 December 22
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1853 February 19
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1853 January 1
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1853 January 24
Submissions from 1854
Clemson, Thomas G. Papers 1854
Deed to Fort Hill plantation and enslaved persons between Floride Calhoun, Cornelia M. Calhoun and Andrew P. Calhoun, 1854 May 15, Floride Calhoun, Cornelia M. Calhoun, and Andrew P. Calhoun
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1854 August 14
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1854 December 26
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1854 January 16
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1854 January 18
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1854 January 8
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1854 July 19
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1854 July 24
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1854 July 29
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1854 May 28
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1854 May 3
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1854 November 2
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1854 November 20
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1854 November 5
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1854 October 15
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1854 October 20
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1854 September 30
Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1854 August 11
Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1854 December 1
Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1854 May 13
Sale of Fort Hill by Patrick Calhoun, 1854
Submissions from 1855
Brief note from Elias Baker to Thomas G. Clemson at "Washington House", 1855 May 16
Business letter from Charles Keuhn to Thomas G. Clemson, 1855 January 24
Business letter from Elias Baker to Thomas G. Clemson, 1855 April 19
Business letter from R. B. Lewis to James E. Calhoun, 1855 April 23
Business letter from R. B. Lewis to M. L. Calhoun, 1855 September 5
Business note from Elias Baker to Thomas G. Clemson, 1855 June 30
Copy of letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Janus E. Calhoun, 1855 February 1
Essay written for The American Farmer by Thomas Clemson, 1855 February 8
Inheritance note of the deceased John C. Calhoun, 1855 May 4
Invoice from the American Consulate, 1855 July 3
Lengthy letter written by James E. Calhoun, 1855 December 4
Letter from Anna Clemson to Floride Clemson, 1855 May 13, Anna Marie Calhoun Clemson
Letter from Anna Clemson to Floride Clemson, 1855 May 6, Anna Marie Calhoun Clemson
Letter from Anna Clemson to Floride Clemson and Maria Cornelia Calhoun, 1855 April 20, Anna Marie Calhoun Clemson
Letter from Bladensburg to Thomas G. Clemson, 1855 January 23
Letter from Charles Keuhn to Thomas G. Clemson, 1855 January 2
Letter from Charles Keuhn to Thomas G. Clemson, 1855 January 8
Letter from Charles Leupp to Thomas G. Clemson, 1855 June 19
Letter from Charles Leupp to Thomas G. Clemson, 1855 March 29
Letter from Charles Leupp to Thomas G. Clemson about Mr. Lea, 1855 May 18
Letter from Charles M. Leupp and Co. to Thomas G. Clemson, 1855 April 10
Letter from Elias Baker to Thomas G. Clemson about a new home, 1855 July 30
Letter from Floride Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1855 February 14, Floride Calhoun
Letter from Floride Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1855 February 19
Letter from Floride Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1855 March 10
Letter from Mary D. Clemson to Floride, 1855 September 25
Letter from mother Anna Clemson to Floride Clemson, 1855 May 13
Letter from mother Anna Clemson to Floride Clemson, 1855 May 6
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1855 April 24
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1855 August 15
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1855 August 25
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1855 August 3
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1855 August 9
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1855 December 15
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1855 January 21
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1855 July 24
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1855 July 6
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1855 June 24
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1855 November 3
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1855 November 4
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1855 November 6
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1855 November 7
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1855 October 6
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1855 September 2
Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1855 April 8
Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1855 February 1
Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1855 March 28
Letter of concern from Floride Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1855 April 23