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Robert C. Edwards Correspondence

 Collection
Identifier: Series-0013

Scope and Content

This series contains the correspondence and reference files maintained by the office of the President. Although the files deal with topics too numerous to describe in great detail, the files may be divided into the following general categories: instructional programs and facilities development, relations with the state of South Carolina, and student affairs.

1. Instructional programs and facilities development

Efforts to improve the quality of programs and instruction at Clemson may be found throughout the series in numerous records from consultants and organizations. Among the organizations are the Cresap, McCormick, and Paget Report, which provided an organizational review of business practices and financial management at Clemson and a foundation for higher education in the state of South Carolina; the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, which planned and instituted new graduate programs in financial management (e.g. the cooperative Clemson-Furman master of business administration degree), education, biochemistry, nursing, and textiles; the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, which dealt with issues of tuition fees, space allocation and a proposed policy that would have required the Department of Defense to reimburse colleges for expenses incurred with ROTC programs; the Southeastern Library Network, which outlined a plan for computer networking and information exchange; and the Southern Regional Education Board, which attempted to improve the quality of veterinary education in the South. An additional number of files of the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education contain budget reports and publications, committee reports, goals, improvements and improvement forecasts for higher education, minutes of meetings, statistical reports, and findings on tuition and fees.

Folders on technical education describe the history of technical education in South Carolina, efforts to increase enrollment at Clemson's branch campus in Sumter, and problems related to the transfer of credits. Budget and statistical information about students entering Clemson may also be found.

Files documenting improvements to the facilities include those on the Stadium, Lee Hall, and the Clemson House. New buildings documented are Fike Recreation Center, the Jervey Athletic Center, Rhodes Hall, and the Forest and Recreation Resources building.

2. Relations with the State of South Carolina

A number of files concern topics related to the State of South Carolina. The Atlantic Coastal Plains Regional Commission (CPRC), whose goal was to foster economic growth in the coastal area of South Carolina, received aid from Clemson University in the areas of engineering and bio-research. Topics of the files cover research funding, shore erosion, and legislation on coastal land management.

The South Carolina Forestry Commission files contain fiscal reports, minutes of meetings, and correspondence. The files document the sale of timber owned by the state Public Service Authority in 1971; the donation of 20 thousand pine seedlings to Panama in 1972; efforts to construct a state park for the handicapped on University land in 1974; and a 1975 study of the Congaree Swamp that proposed developing it into a national park.

The files of the Water Resources Research Institute document the management of water and watershed areas in South Carolina, Congressional appropriations, and a grant from the U.S. Department of Interior for a study of the renovation of sewage effluent by forested soil. Also included are the Eleventh Annual Report that outlined progress of individual projects, summaries of research results, and accomplishments of the Institute.

3. Student affairs

A small number of files document affairs of concern to students, for example, student government, fraternities and sororities, censorship of publications (Taps, Tiger, and Chronicle), and campus unrest in 1971. Also included are letters on various topics from students.

The files of the Atlantic Coast Conference and the National Collegiate Athletic Association contain minutes, reports, bulletins, and rankings of schools in the conference. Much of the correspondence documents the decision of the University of South Carolina to pull out of the ACC and Clemson's decision to remain a member. Also included are files on financial aid awards and the method of awarding them; recruiting violations, and problems encountered in complying with civil rights legislation.

This series contains the correspondence and reference files maintained by the office of the President. Although the files deal with topics too numerous to describe in great detail, the files may be divided into the following general categories: instructional programs and facilities development, relations with the state of South Carolina, and student affairs.

Instructional programs and facilities development

  1. Efforts to improve the quality of programs and instruction at Clemson may be found throughout the series in numerous records from consultants and organizations. Among the organizations are the Cresap, McCormick, and Paget Report, which provided an organizational review of business practices and financial management at Clemson and a foundation for higher education in the state of South Carolina; the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, which planned and instituted new graduate programs in financial management (e.g. the cooperative Clemson-Furman master of business administration degree), education, biochemistry, nursing, and textiles; the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, which dealt with issues of tuition fees, space allocation and a proposed policy that would have required the Department of Defense to reimburse colleges for expenses incurred with ROTC programs; the Southeastern Library Network, which outlined a plan for computer networking and information exchange; and the Southern Regional Education Board, which attempted to improve the quality of veterinary education in the South. An additional number of files of the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education contain budget reports and publications, committee reports, goals, improvements and improvement forecasts for higher education, minutes of meetings, statistical reports, and findings on tuition and fees. Folders on technical education describe the history of technical education in South Carolina, efforts to increase enrollment at Clemson's branch campus in Sumter, and problems related to the transfer of credits. Budget and statistical information about students entering Clemson may also be found. Files documenting improvements to the facilities include those on the Stadium, Lee Hall, and the Clemson House. New buildings documented are Fike Recreation Center, the Jervey Athletic Center, Rhodes Hall, and the Forest and Recreation Resources building.

Dates

  • 1960 - 1979
  • 1971 - 1979

Creator

Restrictions on Use

Unrestricted

Extent

18 Cubic Feet (plus 6 oversize items)

Language of Materials

English

Arrangement

The series is arranged alphabetically by subject.

Provenance

Office of the President

Separated Material

The photographs of the following have been separated from the collection and added to Series 100, Clemson University Photographs

Individuals

Bridges, Russell P., n.d.

Feeley, Robert, n.d.

Hames, John M., n.d.

Jervey, Frank, n.d.

McClure, Harlan Ewart, n.d.

McCrae, John Richards, n.d. (2)

Vickery, K. N., 1939

Subjects

Bioengineering program, 1967

Board of Trustees, 1972

Council of Presidents, 1971

Executive Officers (President's Cabinet), 1975 (?)

Forestry Commission, 1974 (3)

Graduation, 1971, 1972, 1975 (2)

Honor's and Awards Day, 1973

Jervey Athletic Center, n.d. (2)

Junior League Dinner, n.d.

Rhodes Engineering Research Center, (3)

Veterinary medical program, n.d. (15)

Processing Information

Betsy Newton

The conversion of this finding aid to Encoded Archival Description format was made possible with a grant from the South Carolina State Historical Records Advisory Board in 2009-2010. The finding aid was prepared for encoding by Carl Redd.

Title
Robert C. Edwards Correspondence
Status
Completed
Date
2010 July 26
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Repository Details

Part of the Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Repository

Contact:
230 Kappa St.
Clemson SC 29634 U.S.A. US