Walter Thompson Cox Papers
Collection
Identifier: Mss-0300
This manuscript collection has been arranged into eleven series: athletics; buildings and land use (Clemson); clippings; correspondence; miscellaneous; organizations (Clemson and Corporate); personal; recommendations; reports/studies; and scholarships. The papers date from 1909-2006 with the bulk of the collection dating from 1969-2006.
The bulk of the athletics series consists of football bowl game travel information that was provided to Dean Cox. In addition to this material there is a ticket from the 1986 Clemson-Georgia football game. Information regarding efforts to name the Athletic Training Center after longtime employee Herman McGee is also present.
Among the buildings and land use records are plans for street improvements in downtown Clemson (1994), early reports regarding the Clemson University Transit system (1993), and materials related to the establishment and construction of the Walker Golf Course.
Cox collected many news clippings during his lifetime; the bulk of which track the progress and evolution of events at Clemson University over the years. Obituaries of notable Clemson professors and alumni are present, along with those of prominent local figures whom Cox was acquainted with.
The correspondence dates from 1909-2006. The earliest correspondence is on postcards depicting Clemson College scenes which are addressed to Blanche and Anna Tribble of Georgia. Additionally, there are letters from 1918 written by Walter T. Cox's father during his service in World War I. The bulk of the correspondence is between 1986 and 2006. Several files devoted specifically to families or individuals have been preserved as they were originally filed. These are in alphabetical order by last name following the 2006 material.
There are miscellaneous items in this collection related directly to Clemson University. Of note are items from the Clemson carillon dedication in 1987, a list of Faculty Senate Presidents (1956-2002), Clemson graduates earning PhD's (1921-1961), Clemson's written position regarding the Confederate Flag (2000), and correspondence and plans regarding efforts to restore the R.W. Simpson Cemetery site.
These papers contain two series concerning organizations which have been designated Clemson and Corporate. The bulk of the organizational material which relates to Clemson includes: Class of 1939 reunions (1950s-2006), Clemson Corps (1998-2005), Clemson University Foundation (1986-2005), and Cotton Bowl (1940) reunions (1974-2004). The corporate records almost exclusively include materials which document Cox's participation as board member. Among these are: AABCO (1969-1971), Blue Cross/Blue Shield (1969-1978), Clemson Area Retirement Center (1976-1998), Citizens & Southern National Bank 1966-1985), Santee Cooper (1965-2003), and the South Carolina State Museum Commission (1996-1998).
Among items of personal interest regarding Walter Cox include a copy of his marriage certificate (1940) to his first wife Mary Johnson, hand-written reflections regarding his own "Clemson Experience", and items of congratulations upon his retirement in 1987.
A series entitled "recommendations" contains materials which highlight Dean Cox's ongoing efforts to help various individuals by serving as a reference.
Among notable reports and studies are audits from the late 1980s and an early report regarding efforts to establish the Clemson Motorsports Foundation.
The scholarships record group contains lists of Clemson students who have been awarded with the Cox Scholarship between the years 1989-2001.
Walter Thompson Cox was born on September 19, 1918 in Belton, South Carolina, the son of Walter T. and Grace Campbell Cox. He entered Clemson College in the fall of 1935, graduating with a degree in General Science in 1939. Returning in 1940 during a year of post graduate study, Cox anchored the offensive line while playing for the football team. The season was a success, as Clemson defeated Boston College 6-3 in the Cotton Bowl. It was the Tigers' first post-season appearance.
After serving in the United States Army during the years 1942-1943, Cox returned to Clemson. During the 1940s he served in a variety of athletic positions including assistant football coach, ticket manager, baseball coach, and IPTAY promoter. In 1951, he assumed dual responsibilities as Director of Public Relations and Alumni Affairs as well as assistant to President Robert F. Poole. In 1955 Cox was named Dean of Students (later Vice President for Student Affairs), a position at which he served until 1985. At the request of the Board of Trustees, he left the student affairs post in July 1985 to become Clemson's tenth president. He was the third Clemson graduate to assume the school's presidency, serving until Max Lennon took the position in March 1986. Cox officially retired in 1987, though he continued to be involved in development activities on behalf of Clemson University until his death in 2006.
Cox married the former Mary Johnson in 1940. Together they had four children: Walter T. III, Frank, Grace, and William. After Mary Johnson Cox's death in 1985, Walter Cox was remarried to the former Jenelle Garrett Cox in November of 1986.
11 Cubic Feet (23 document boxes and one oversized folder)
English
This manuscript collection contains material donated by Walter Thompson Cox, longtime Dean of Students (1955-1985) and tenth President of Clemson University (July 1986-March 1987). His tenure saw the enrollment of Clemson increase significantly; he presided over important milestones such as the transition from a military college into a major university, the admission of women, and the peaceful desegregation of the student body. In addition to documenting his ongoing efforts to promote Clemson University, the papers contain materials that highlight his participation in a number of corporate boards, along with several files that relate to various aspects of his personal life.
By series.
Received from Walter Thompson Cox. Accession numbers: 89-195, 98-1, 98-112, 99-95, 00-61, 03-134, 05-78, and 06-76.
This collection was processed by Carl Redd, Project Archivist with the aid of Student Assistant Deanna Panetta in the spring and summer of 2007.
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.
Part of the Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Repository