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 1855
Letter to Thomas G. Clemson, 1855 March 26
Letter written by James E. Calhoun, 1855 June 16
Monetary note addressed to Thomas Clemson, 1855 January 15
Note from Charles Leupp to Thomas G. Clemson, 1855 April 10
Note from Charles Leupp to Thomas G. Clemson, 1855 April 11
Note from Charles Leupp to Thomas G. Clemson, 1855 June 15
Note from Charles Leupp to Thomas G. Clemson concerning the gift of a slave, 1855 June 29
Receipt of Charles A. Voirie, 1855 February 11
Thomas Green Clemson's Scrap Book containing his published letters and speeches, February 1855-1862
Submissions from 1856
Business letter from H. Geurdin to Thomas G. Clemson, 1856 May 23
Business letter from James E. Calhoun, 1856 May 21
Business letter from Solomon Tant addressed to a group of gentlemen, 1856 January 24
Business note from Charles Leupp and Co. to Thomas G. Clemson, 1856 January 3
Correspondence from Mary D. Clemson to Floride Calhoun, 1856 June 3
Lengthy letter from unknown sender, 1856
Letter from Anna Clemson, 1856 May 31
Letter from Anna Clemson to Floride Clemson, 1856 September 16, Anna Marie Calhoun Clemson
Letter from Floride Calhoun, 1856 May 15
Letter from Floride Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1856 June 7, Floride Calhoun
Letter from Floride Calhoun to Floride Clemson, 1856 April 21
Letter from H. Pickens, 1856 May 14
Letter from Kate C. Barton to Floride, 1856 April 16
Letter from Kate C. Barton to Floride Clemson, 1856 April 23
Letter from Mary D. Clemson to Floride, 1856 February 19
Letter from mother Floride Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1856 June 7, Floride Calhoun
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1856 December 19
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1856 December 8
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1856 February 24
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1856 February 29
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1856 January 29
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1856 January 9
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1856 July 18
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1856 July 20
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1856 June 24
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1856 March 13
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1856 November 12
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1856 September 18
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1856 September 7
Letter from unknown sender, 1856 June 2
Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1856 February 1
Letter to Durand, 1856 March 26
Letter written by Floride Calhoun, 1856 April 12
Letter written by Floride Clemson about home affairs, 1856 January 19
Letter written by unknown author, 1856 January 5
Monetary note to Thomas G. Clemson, 1856 May 13
Submissions from 1857
1856 account record of Thomas G. Clemson, 1857 February 1
Business letter from Elias Baker to Thomas G. Clemson, 1857 November 16
Business letter from Major Vaudernsun [?] to Thomas G. Clemson, 1857 July 2
Correspondence from Charles Leupp to Thomas G. Clemson, 1857 April 15
Letter from Anna Clemson to Floride Clemson, 1857 January 7, Anna Marie Calhoun Clemson
Letter from Anna Clemson to Floride Clemson, 1857 September 12, Anna Marie Calhoun Clemson
Letter from Charles Leupp to Thomas G. Clemson, 1857 April 27
Letter from Charles Leupp to Thomas G. Clemson, 1857 May 13
Letter from Charles Leupp to Thomas G. Clemson, 1857 November 6
Letter from Floride Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1857 April 12, Floride Calhoun
Letter from Floride Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1857 August 18, Floride Calhoun
Letter from Floride Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1857 August 27, Floride Calhoun
Letter from Floride Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1857 December 20, Floride Calhoun
Letter from Floride Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1857 December 28, Floride Calhoun
Letter from Floride Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1857 December 5, Floride Calhoun
Letter from Floride Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1857 June 14, Floride Calhoun
Letter from Floride Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1857 May 20, Floride Calhoun
Letter from Floride Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1857 November 19, Floride Calhoun
Letter from Floride Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1857 November 25, Floride Calhoun
Letter from Floride Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1857 October 20, Floride Calhoun
Letter from Floride Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1857 September 6, Floride Calhoun
Letter from Floride Calhoun to Floride Clemson, 1857 August 8
Letter from Floride Calhoun to Floride Clemson, 1857 September 10, Floride Calhoun
Letter from H. [illegible] to Thomas G. Clemson, 1857 June 30
Letter from James E. Calhoun Sr. to Anna Clemson about Cornelia Calhoun's death, 1857 May 3
Letter from Patrick Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1857 September 10
Letter from Patrick Calhoun to Thomas G. Clemson, 1857 Decmeber 23
Letter from P. Calhoun to Anna Clemson 1857 December 6
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson, 1857 January 3
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1857 April 7
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1857 August 17
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1857 August 30
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1857 February 9
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1857 January 7
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1857 July 24
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1857 November 10
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1857 November 4
Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1857 October 23
Letter from unknown sender, 1857 January 21
Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1857 December 15
Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1858 August 2
Letter to Floride Clemson from Anna Clemson, 1857 November
Letter to Thomas G. Clemson, 1857 July 2
Letter written by Anna Clemson, 1857 December 13, Anna Marie Calhoun Clemson
Letter written by James E. Calhoun, 1857 February 20
Letter written by James E. Calhoun, 1857 June 5
Letter written by James E. Calhoun, 1857 November 19
Letter written by James E. Calhoun, 1857 November 4
Letter written by James E. Calhoun, 1857 September 20
Letter written by unknown sender, 1857 March
Love poem written by Mary Stuart, 1857 October 31
Monetary note from Charles Leupp & Co. to Thomas G. Clemson, 1857 February 1
Paper from James E. Calhoun addressed to Captain P. Calhoun, 1857 June 19
Typed letter from Floride Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1857 August 27
Submissions from 1858
Account balance of Thomas G. Clemson, 1858 February 1