Clemson University Special Collections and Archives

Clemson University Special Collections and Archives Special Collections and Archives is a branch of the Clemson University Libraries.

Holdings include manuscripts, the University Archives, rare books, photographs and artifacts.

Clemson University Special Collections and Archives joins the world in mourning the loss of global icon Dolly Parton. On...
08/26/2026

Clemson University Special Collections and Archives joins the world in mourning the loss of global icon Dolly Parton. On February 22, 1985, Dolly Parton performed at Littlejohn Coliseum at a concert that also featured Kenny Rogers. These are a few of the images of Dolly’s performance that night that are currently housed in the Special Collections and Archives.

CU Libraries

Move-in day, circa 1960(Image from Series 100: Clemson University Photographs)
08/14/2026

Move-in day, circa 1960

(Image from Series 100: Clemson University Photographs)

Clemson’s Tiger Paw logo, designed by John Antonio, was publicly unveiled on July 21, 1970, on a one-day, six-city publi...
07/21/2026

Clemson’s Tiger Paw logo, designed by John Antonio, was publicly unveiled on July 21, 1970, on a one-day, six-city publicity tour (Florence, Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, Charlotte, and Atlanta).

Today we remember and honor those that have died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. At least 498 known Clemson alum...
05/25/2026

Today we remember and honor those that have died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. At least 498 known Clemson alumni have given their lives in service to our country.

Among this group is PFC Roy Harold Barnard, Jr., of Florida. Barnard attended Clemson as member of the Class of 1944 before being called to active duty in 1943. Barnard was killed in action in France while serving with the 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division, on December 4, 1944. Barnard posthumously received the Purple Heart.

The Clemson student yearbook, "Taps," paused publication after 1943 due to World War II. When it resumed publication in 1947, Clemson sent a complementary copy to the families of students killed during the war.

Additional information on Roy Harold Barnard, Jr. can be found at Clemson’s Scroll of Honor: https://soh.alumni.clemson.edu/scroll/roy-harold-barnard-jr/

in 1894, the Main Building suffered a fire that began on the third floor and quickly spread throughout the building. S...
05/22/2026

in 1894, the Main Building suffered a fire that began on the third floor and quickly spread throughout the building. Students, faculty, staff, convict laborers, and local fireman combated the blaze, and while the interior could not be saved, their efforts preserved the adjoining chapel. The classrooms, museum, and library were destroyed, as well as the personal book collections of John C. Calhoun and Thomas Green Clemson. By October 1894 most of the building had been reconstructed, and it was ready for use again in early 1895.

Today is Clemson's 11th annual Give Day! Join your Clemson Family in supporting multiple initiatives across campus. Cons...
04/08/2026

Today is Clemson's 11th annual Give Day! Join your Clemson Family in supporting multiple initiatives across campus. Consider giving to the Special Collections Acquisitions fund to help us collect, preserve, and make accessible Clemson's cherished history!

https://giveday.clemson.edu/pages/history-initiatives

Tomorrow is Give Day 2026! On Wednesday, April 8, you can help preserve Clemson’s history by donating to the Special Col...
04/07/2026

Tomorrow is Give Day 2026! On Wednesday, April 8, you can help preserve Clemson’s history by donating to the Special Collections Acquisitions Fund.

Donations can be made at the link below. Thank you for your support!

https://giveday.clemson.edu/pages/history-initiatives

Clemson women’s participation in organized athletics predated the establishment of the varsity teams in 1975. In the spr...
03/27/2026

Clemson women’s participation in organized athletics predated the establishment of the varsity teams in 1975. In the spring of 1959, just four years after Clemson admitted the first women undergraduate students, the school’s women’s club organized a basketball team.

Because women’s participation in athletics was not widespread at that time, the team was composed of Clemson students, employees, and spouses of male students. Their seven-game schedule included games against experienced textile mill teams, Anderson College, Anderson YMCA, and Daniel High School.

The team faced a lack of funding for uniforms and a place to practice and play home games, but as the short season progressed the team garnered support from the student body and attention in the Tiger student newspaper.

The “Tigerettes” may have finished with a record of 2-5, but their willingness to overcome challenges to organize and compete demonstrated that women’s athletics at Clemson was possible.

Herman McGee became the first African American inductee into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame when he was inducted in 1...
02/27/2026

Herman McGee became the first African American inductee into the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame when he was inducted in 1976. McGee served as an athletic trainer from 1934-1980, and his 46-year career is still the longest tenure for a full-time Athletic Department Employee.

McGee served as an assistant athletic trainer from 1934-48, head athletic trainer from 1948-57, equipment manager and assistant athletic trainer from 1958-69, and assistant athletic trainer and head baseball trainer from 1969-80. He also led the Block C Club in an unofficial capacity.

McGee and five other inductees of the fourth class of the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame were honored at halftime of the football game versus North Carolina on November 6, 1976.

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29634

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