Clemson University

See how one man's belief in agriculture's promise led to the founding of what is now a powerhouse among Southern academic institutions, Clemson University.

The roots of agriculture run deeply in South Carolina's history; even its earliest settlers valued the rich and fertile land. However, after the Civil War devastated Southern land and economy, many questioned if the agrarian way of life could survive. Thomas Green Clemson, son-in-law of South Carolina's foremost statesman John C. Calhoun, believed in the promise of agricultural improvement through science and offered his estate, Fort Hill, to found the agricultural and mechanical college today called Clemson University. For more than a century, the institution that bears his name has served as a beacon for perhaps thousands of students, standing proudly in the solemn Carolina foothills. Through the years, faculty, students, alumni, and fans have realized Thomas G. Clemson's vision for higher education and strengthened the school to a mighty level. From the more than 600 students who applied the first year to join an all-male Cadet Corps, Clemson has developed into a household academic institution. Recognized for its commitment to academic excellence, cultural opportunities, and aesthetic attractions, the university is perhaps best known as home of the famed athletic teams, the Clemson Tigers. This volume offers young and mature readers alike a chance to meet and reminisce about Clemson's legends - with longtime Tiger fans perhaps even finding old friends they made along the way.

Clemson professor Helene M. Riley has authored this celebration of the university's history with vintage photographs from Clemson's Special Collections and with input from the school's faculty and staff. A fitting tribute to the spirit of the school, Clemson University is a must-have for all who cherish the place "Where the Blue Ridge yawns its greatness, Where the Tigers play."