In his Last Will and Testament, Thomas Green Clemson left over 800 acres of land, as well as Fort Hill, to the State of South Carolina to create an agricultural college to educate the farmers and mechanics of the state. The Will said the establishment “should be a high seminary of learning” teaching students “in thorough theoretic and practical instruction in those sciences and arts which bear directly upon agriculture.”
The Will was previously held in the Oconee County Probate Court. Now, in collaboration with the Court and the State of South Carolina, this foundational document that governs Clemson University to this day, is now housed in Special Collections and Archives. Anna Calhoun Clemson’s Last Will and Testament has also been returned to us, along with documents from Clemson’s Estate.
Visit the Wills
The original Last Wills and Testaments of Thomas Green Clemson and Anna Calhoun Clemson are on display in Clemson University’s Special Collections and Archives, located on the lower level of the Strom Thurmond Institute.
Public viewing hours:
Monday to Friday
09:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 3:30pm
Photo ID is required.
Planning to visit with a large group?
Please contact us in advance at archives@nullclemson.edu to schedule your visit.
Note: Any changes to our opening hours are posted on the Special Collections and Archives home page.
Explore Digitally
Digital images of the wills can be viewed on the Digital Collections website.
A list of the Thomas G. and Anna C. Clemson probate records can be found in our Collections Guides.
Please note: We are unable to provide individual digital copies of these documents.