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 1823

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Instructions by John B. Clemson to Thomas G. Clemson, 1823 August 23

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Invitation to Thomas G. Clemson, 1823 August 23

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Letter from John B. Clemson to Thomas G. Clemson, 1823 August 23

Submissions from 1828

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Transcription of letter August 29, 1828

Submissions from 1829

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Letter September 12, 1829, Robert

Submissions from 1830

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Typed draft of letter from Thomas G. Clemson to brother, 1830's

Submissions from 1832

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Deed from Richard Banks to David Gibson, Richard Banks

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Deed of Conveyance from John Banks to Andrew P Calhoun, John Banks

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Deed of Conveyance from Joseph R to Andrew P Calhoun, Joseph

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Letter draft to "Dear Father" from Thomas G. Clemson

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Photocopy of Trial of Lucretia Chapman

Submissions from 1833

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Bond from Elizabeth Clemson promising to pay Thomas G. Clemson a sum of $2,500, Elizabeth C. Clemson

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Court document concerning lot 817, George Pearson and Perry

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Deed of Conveyance from David C Gibson to John C Calhoun and John E Colhoun of a gold mine, David C. Gibson

Submissions from 1835

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Deed for interest in lot 817 from Pinkney Caldwell to John C Calhoun, Pinkney Caldwell

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Sheriff's deed in regards to a lot of land sold to John C. Calhoun, Sheriff Samuel King

Submissions from 1836

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Sheriff's deed in regards to a lot of land sold to John C. Calhoun, Sheriff John Field

Submissions from 1837

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Handwritten copy of an agreement between Peatte, Linn, and Clemson concerning a mine

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Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to unnamed elder, 1837 February 1

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Typed letter draft from Thomas G. Clemson to aunt, 1837 January 24

Submissions from 1838

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Letter, August 13, 1838, from Thomas Green Clemson to Anna Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, August 16, 1838, from Thomas Green Clemson to P.H. Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, August 19, 1838, from Thomas Green Clemson to Anna Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, August 5, 1838, from Thomas Green Clemson to Anna Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, July 22, 1838, from Thomas Green Clemson to Anna Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

Submissions from 1839

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Clemson, Thomas G. Papers 1839

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Letter, February 8, 1839, from Thomas Green Clemson to Andrew Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, May 3, 1839, from Thomas Green Clemson to Anna Clemson, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, November 10, 1839, from Thomas Green Clemson to Andrew Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, November 28, 1839, from Thomas Green Clemson to James E Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, November 28, 1839, from Thomas Green Clemson to James E Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

Submissions from 1840

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Clemson, Thomas G. Papers - Thomas Green Clemson to Elias Baker. 1840 - 1842, 1848, 1852 - 1855

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Clemson, Thomas G. Papers - William F. Clemson to Elias Baker. 1840, 1844 - 1846, 1854 - 1858

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Letter, December 7, 1840, from George Patterson to Thomas Green Clemson, George Patterson

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Letter from Thomas G. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1840 September 19

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Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1840 January 28

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Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1850 December 14

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Statement of the Case 1840

Submissions from 1841

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Letter from Thomas G. Clemson, 1841 February 19

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Letter from Thomas G. Clemson, 1841 January 16

Submissions from 1842

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Legal document binding Clemson to a debt

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Letter, August 20, 1842, from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, August 25, 1842, from Thomas Green Clemson to James E Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, February 19, 1842, from Thomas Green Clemson to James Edward Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter from Thomas G. Clemson, 1842 July 29

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Letter, July 25, 1842, from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, July 31, 1842, from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, July 9, 1842, from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, June 22, 1842, from John C Calhoun to Thomas Green Clemson, John C. Calhoun

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Letter, June 23, 1842, from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, June 30, 1842, from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, October 19, 1842, from Richard Banks to John C Calhoun, Richard Banks

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Plat of Part of Chillum Castle Manor, Rick Beall

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Transcript, July 16, 1842, of letter from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

Submissions from 1843

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Letter, December 12, 1843, from Thomas Green Clemson to Andrew P Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, December 21, 1843, from Thomas Green Clemson to Andrew P Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, February 7, 1843, from Thomas Green Clemson to James Edward Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, January 23, 1843, from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun

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Letter, January 29, 1843, from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, January 8, 1843, from Thomas Green Clemson to James Edward Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, March 25, 1843, from Thomas Green Clemson to James Edward Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

Submissions from 1844

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Gold and the Gold Region, The Orion, April 1844 Photocopy, The Orion

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Letter, 1844, from J.B. Brackett to Thomas Green Clemson, J.B. Brackett

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Letter from Judges Cheeves, Charleston Mercury, Photocopy 1844

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Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1844 July 4

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Statement of account between John C Calhoun, Andrew P Calhoun, and Thomas Green Clemson, John C. Calhoun

Submissions from 1845

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Letter, February 25, 1845, from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1845 April 4

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Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1845 August 23

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Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1845 July 3

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Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1845 October 30

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Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1845 September 6

Submissions from 1846

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Clemson, Thomas G. Papers 1845-1847

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Letter from William F. Clemson to Elias Baker, 1846 March 17

Submissions from 1847

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Envelope for shipping receipt

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Letter, October 14, 1847, from Thomas Green Clemson to Mr. Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Shipping receipt from Antwerp, Belgium to Edgefield Court House, South Carolina for painting

Submissions from 1848

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Clemson, Thomas G. Papers 1848-1849

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Letter, April 26, 1848, from Thomas Green Clemson to John C Calhoun, Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, Februrary 13, 1848, from William Calhoun to John Calhoun Clemson, William Calhoun

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Letter, March 26, 1848, to John Calhoun Clemson, Vesey

Submissions from 1849

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Clemson, Thomas G. Papers 1848-1849

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Letter to Thomas Green Clemson

Submissions from 1850

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Clemson, Thomas G. Papers January 1850-May 1850

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Clemson, Thomas G. Papers January 1850-May 1850

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Clemson, Thomas G. Papers July 1850-December 1850

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Copy of Agreement, August 30, 1850

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Inventory of household goods

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Letter, April 2, 1850, to Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, April 23, 1850, to Mrs. Calhoun

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Letter, August 11, 1850, from Floride Calhoun to Floride Clemson, Floride Calhoun

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Letter, December 15, 1850, from Thomas Green Clemson to Anna Clemson

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Letter, February 19, 1850, to Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter from Babette Sauer to Floride Clemson, 1850 September 13

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Letter from J. Calhoun to Anna Clemson, 1850's

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Letter, January 25, 1850, to Thomas Green Clemson

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Letter, October 1, 1850, to Thomas Green Clemson

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Transcript of letter, August 11, 1850, from Floride Calhoun to Floride Clemson

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Transcript of letter, August 24, 1850, from Thomas Green Clemson to W.W. Corcoran

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Transcript of letter, May 20, 1850, from Armistead Burt to Thomas Green Clemson, Armistead Burt