T. L. Senn Papers
Collection
Identifier: Mss-0386
The T. L. Senn Papers document his activities as a student in the Clemson College Class of 1939, as a professor at Clemson University, and after his retirement. The collection contains materials relating to student life at Clemson during the 1930’s and 1950’s, biographical information for Senn, and material documenting his role in creating and supporting the South Carolina Botanical Garden, particularly the early years of its development. This includes videos relating to the Fort Hill Garden Club; the Garden for the Blind in the Botanical Garden; the 1998 Idlewilde Festival; a 1996 interview with Senn; and photographs of the land that became the Botanical Garden prior to its restoration. The collection dates from 1953-2011 with most materials dating between 1969-1992.
The T. L. Senn Papers are an important resource researching Dr. Senn’s life, Clemson University history, and the development of the South Carolina Botanical Garden.
This collection is open to the public without restriction.
Taze Leonard Senn was born on October 16, 1917 in Newberry, SC the son of George Walter and Rebecca Reeder Senn. He graduated from Clemson College in 1939 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Horticulture. Senn earned a Masters degree in Horticultural Physiology in 1950 and a Ph.D in Horticulture in 1958, both from the University of Maryland. For the latter he became the first agricultural student to receive a national Danforth Teaching Fellowship. Senn married Marguerite “Reet” Busby in 1939 and they had three children: David, Richard, and Thomas. After her death in 1996 he married Betty Conner Yarborough in 1997.
In World War II Senn was called to active duty in the Navy as an ensign in 1943. He trained in communications and in 1945 began serving in the Pacific Theater as a communications officer handling top-secret communications aboard the submarine U.S.S. Ray, the command ships U.S.S. Rocky Mount and U.S.S. Estes, the hospital ship U.S.S. Repose, and the attack transport U.S.S. Randall. He was promoted to Lieutenant, junior grade in December 1945 and retired from the Naval Reserves at that rank in 1950.
After the war Senn returned to Clemson College in 1946 as an assistant professor of horticulture. He became the head of the Department of Horticulture in 1960 and retired in 1981. While at Clemson Senn researched the use of seaweed to enhance plant growth. He also developed the Horticulture Garden which later became the South Carolina Botanical Garden; the original 44-acre tract was named the T. L. Senn Horticultural Garden in his honor in 1991. He was a leader in the Class of 1939’s contributions to the University, particularly the Class of 1939 Faculty Award for Excellence and the Heritage Gardens at the South Carolina Botanical Gardens. For his contributions to Clemson he was awarded the Thomas Clemson Medallion, Clemson University’s highest honor, in 1994.
After his retirement Senn developed a plant growth enhancer he called Nature’s NOG (Natural Organic Growth) and created a family business to sell the product. He died on January 12, 2016 in Seneca, SC.
.5 Cubic Feet (1 document box)
English
The T. L. Senn Papers provide biographical information regarding Senn’s life, including his time as a student in the Clemson College Class of 1939. The collection is also an important source in documenting the development of the South Carolina Botanical Garden.
The Papers include audio-video materials, certificates, correspondence, memoranda, photographs, reports, and other items relating to his time as a student and professor at Clemson and his activities post-retirement, with most of the materials in the collection dating between 1969-1992.
Chronological.
Donated by T. L. Senn in 2010. Accession 10-121
The collection was processed and a finding aid created by James Cross in 2023
Part of the Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Repository