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 1863
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Floride Clemson, 1863 November 1
Letter from Kale C. Barton to Floride Clemson, 1863 February 2
Letter from Kale C. Barton to Floride Clemson, 1863 February 7
Letter from Kale C. Barton to Floride Clemson, 1863 May 12
Letter from Laura T. Leupp to Floride Clemson, 1863 August 25
Letter from Laura T. Leupp to Floride Clemson, 1863 March 9
Letter from Louisa Washington to Floride Clemson, 1863 November 3
Letter from L .W. Wharton to Floride Clemson, 1863 August 31
Letter from M. C. Lin to Anna Clemson, 1863 September 14
Letter from M. C. Lin to Anna Clemson, 1863 September 7
Letter from M. W. Merrick to Floride Clemson, 1863 April 21
Letter from Nina Buck, 1863 April 18
Letter from Nina Buck, 1863 March 30
Letter from Sallice L. Clemson to Floride Clemson, 1863 June 30
Letter from Truman Durall to Anna Clemson, 1863 July 23
Letter from W. C. to Anna Clemson, 1863 August 5
Letter from W. C. to Anna Clemson, 1863 July 9
Letter to Anna Clemson, 1863 May 21
Letter to Floride Clemson, 1863 August 10
Payment notice from Anna Clemson, 1863 August 29
Receipt of Elias Baker, 1863 June 3
Short note about Anna Clemson, 1863 September
Typed letter form J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1863 January 4
Typed letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1863 December 24
Typed letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1863 January 12
Typed letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1863 June 23
Typed letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1863 November 23
Typed letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1863 November 5
Typed letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1863 October 10
Typed letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1863 December 10
Typed letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1863 December 13
Typed letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1863 December 14
Typed letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1863 December 16
Typed letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1863 December 22
Typed letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1863 December 24
Typed letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1863 December 5
Typed letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1863 January 4
Typed letter from J. C. Clemson to Floride Clemson, 1863 November 1
Submissions from 1864
Damaged letter from Floride Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1864 February 2
Illegible letter, 1864 March 29
Letter and receipt from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1864 May 20
Letter from A.L.L. to Flouride Calhoun, 1864, April 21
Letter from A.L.L. to Flouride Calhoun, 1864, April 22
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1864 April 17
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1864 August 2
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1864 December 21
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1864 February 4
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1864 July 3
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1864 June 12
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1864 June 5
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1864 March 6
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1864 May 1
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1864 May 15
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1864 May 26
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1864 November 20
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1864 October 24
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1864 October 31
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1864 October 6
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1864 September 18
Letter from Anna Clemson to Elias Baker, 1864 September 28
Letter from Annie to Floride Clemson, 1864 February 22
Letter from Bob Lambert to Harriet, 1864, January 2
Letter from D. W. Lee to Anna Clemson, 1864 January 8
Letter from D. W. Lee to Anna Maria Calhoun Clemson, 1864, December 22
Letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1864 February 1
Letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1864 February 8
Letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1864 January 6
Letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1864 January 8
Letter from Elias Baker to Anna Clemson, 1864 March 3
Letter from Floride Calhoun, 1864 January 25
Letter from Floride Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1864 January 26
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1863 January 28
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1864 February 11
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1864 February 16
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1864 February 21
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1864 February 26
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1864 February 27
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1864 February 8
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1864 January 14
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1864 January 20
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1864 January 23
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1864 January 4
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1864 March 15
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1864 March 2
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1864 March 20
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1864 March 27
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1864 March 4
Letter from J. C. Clemson to Anna Clemson, 1864 September 26
Letter from Laura T. Leupp to Floride Clemson, 1864 February 1
Letter from Longwell Taylor to Anna Clemson, 1864
Letter from M. Brighton Sr. to Anna Clemson, 1864 March 15
Letter from the U.S. Forces Sandusky, 1864, April 27
Letter from unknown sender, 1864, April 9
Letter from unknown sender, 1864 August 24
Letter from unknown sender, 1864, December, 26
Letter from unknown sender to Flouride Calhoun, 1864, April 20
Letter from unknown sender to Mrs. Don Alson and Mrs. Clemson,1864, April 22
Letter to Mr. Butler, 1864 December 29
Pass for Mrs. Thomas G. Clemson, 1864, December 26
Pass from General Terry to Mrs. Thomas G. Clemson, 1864, April 21