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 1862
Letter from D. W. Lee to Anna Clemson, 1862 March 3
Letter from D. W. Lee to Anna Clemson, 1862 May 19
Letter from D. W. Lee to Anna Clemson, 1862 November 4
Letter from D. W. Lee to Anna Clemson, 1862 October 28
Letter from Hanie S. Lane to Floride Clemson, 1862 February 8
Letter from H. C. M. Ceney, 1862 November 1
Letter from H. C. M. Ceney, 1862 October 12
Letter from H. Gaudin to Thomas G. Clemson, 1862 May 4
Letter from H. Goudin to Thomas G. Clemson, 1862 September 9
Letter from H. Gouedin to Thomas G. Clemson, 1862 January 8
Letter from H. Lane to Floride Clemson, 1862 April 23
Letter from H. Lane to Floride Clemson, 1862 November 14
Letter from H. R. L. to Floride Clemson, 1862 July 22
Letter from Laura T. Leupp to Floride Clemson, 1862 December 9
Letter from Laura T. Leupp to Floride Clemson, 1862 July 20
Letter from Laura T. Leupp to Floride Clemson, 1862 June 25
Letter from Laura T. Leupp to Floride Clemson, 1862 October 2
Letter from Longwell T. to Thomas G. Clemson, 1862 December 21
Letter from L. T. Leupp to Floride Clemson, 1862 January 12
Letter from L. T. Leupp to Floride Clemson, 1862 June 4
Letter from L. T. Leupp to Floride Clemson, 1862 March 11
Letter from L. T. L. to Floride Clemson, 1862 April 20
Letter from Sallice L. Clemins to Floride Clemson, 1862 November 8
Letter from U. M. W. to Floride Clemson, 1862 March 23
Letters and receipts of the Clemsons, 1862
Letter to Anna Clemson, 1862 April 2
Maryland Agricultural College Commencement Ball invitation to Anna and Floride Clemson, 1862 July 11
Maryland Agricultural College Commencement program, 1862 July 11
Receipt of Anna Clemson, 1862 June 26
Receipt of Anna Clemson, 1862 November 8
Receipt of Anna Clemson, 1862 October 4
Receipt of Anna Clemson, 1862 October 9
Receipt of Anna Clemson, 1862 September 30
Receipt of William M. Brant, 1862 November 21
Typed letter from Charles M. Washington to Floride Clemson, 1862 July 18
Wars news to Floride Clemson, 1862 April 4
Submissions from 1863
Account of Calhoun, 1863 May 11
Account of D. W. Lee, 1863 May 12
Account of late James C. Calhoun, 1863 May 11
Congress Hall postcard, 1863 September 12
Invitation to Madame Lisboa, 1863 April 24
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1863 April 5
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1863 December 13
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1863 February 12
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1863 January 12
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1863 June 13
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1863 May 18
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1863 November 10
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1863 November 15
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1863 November 20
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1863 September 27
Letter from Anne to Floride Clemson, 1863 November 4
Letter from B. H. Latisbe to Floride Clemson, 1863 January 23
Letter from B. H. Latisbe to Floride Clemson, 1863 July 1
Letter from C. C. Sittings to Floride Clemson, 1863 January 20
Letter from Charles M. Leupp & Co. to Anna Clemson, 1863 November 11
Letter from Charles M. Leupp & Co. to Anna Clemson, 1863 November 13
Letter from Charles M. Leupp & co. to Anna Clemson, 1863 November 18
Letter from Charles M. Leupp & Co. to Anna Clemson, 1863 November 5
Letter from D. W. Lee to Anna Clemson, 1863 April 30
Letter from D. W. Lee to Anna Clemson, 1863 December 8
Letter from D. W. Lee to Anna Clemson, 1863 November 11
Letter from D. W. Lee to Anna Clemson, 1863 November 21
Letter from D. W. Lee to Anna Clemson, 1863 November 3
Letter from D. W. Lee to Anna Clemson, 1863 October 17
Letter from D. W. Lee to Major General Hallick Commander in Chief, 1863 January 26
Letter from Edward Mugwood to Anna Clemson, 1863 November 11
Letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1863 April 27
Letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1863 December 16
Letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1863 December 24
Letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1863 December 31
Letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1863 January 13
Letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1863 June 10
Letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1863 June 23
Letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1863 November 10
Letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1863 November 18
Letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1863 November 23
Letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1863 November 3
Letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1863 November 5
Letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1863 October 10
Letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1863 October 6
Letter from Floride Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1863
Letter from G. M. Baker to Floride Clemson, 1863 July 4
Letter from H. Goudin to Thomas G. Clemson, 1863 March 12
Letter from H. Goudin to Thomas G. Clemson, 1863 March 19
Letter from H. Lane to Floride Clemson, 1863 June 9
Letter from [illegible], 1863 July 1
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1863 December 10
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1863 December 13
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1863 December 14
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1863 December 16
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1863 December 22
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1863 December 24
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1863 December 5
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1863 February 3