Robert F. Poole Papers
Collection
Identifier: Mss-0073
The Poole collection consists of several different types of records: Manuscripts, photographs, and microfilm. The manuscripts include correspondence 1925-1926, 1938-1958, and research notes concerning Poole's efforts to find methods of halting various plant diseases, 1920-1940. These research notes include some raw data, summaries of data, and various reports and articles written by Poole on diseases of cotton, peach trees, peanuts, sweet potatoes, tobacco, and other crops.
The early correspondence relates to Poole's work as plant pathologist with the New Jersey Experiment Station. The correspondence from the late 1930s involves an exchange of letters between Poole and Frank Graham, President of the University of North Carolina about the Experiment Station Farms and the Basic Division at North Carolina State. There is some correspondence related to Poole's efforts in 1940 to have Jess Neely retained as Clemson's football coach and a considerable number of letters of congratulation from trustees, alumni, and friends regarding his appointment as President. There is little correspondence and only a few documents related to Clemson operating during Poole's administration.
Two scrapbooks, 1940-1958, were compiled by college staff and document Poole's activities as recorded in newspapers and variousw other publications. These scrapbooks suffered mildew damage and were microfilmed on two reels of microfilm. The scrapbooks also contained photographs, programs, and certificates which have been removed after being filmed. In the case of the photographs, photocopies have been filmed on the microfilm with identification numbers. The photograph collection also contains a number of positive prints and negatives of tobacco fields and peach orchards in North Carolina during the 1930s. There are also a few plates of peach leaves. There is one folder of family photographs of the Poole and Bradley families.
There are no restrictions upon the use of this collection beyond those of Special Collections.
Robert Franklin Poole was born on December 2, 1893 at Gray Court in Laurens County, South Carolina, the son of Ula Barto and Lila Yeargin Poole. He attended public schools in the county and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Clemson College in 1916. In 1917, Poole attended Rutgers University and received a Masters in Science in plant pathology. During World War I, he enrolled in the United States War School at Hampton, Virginia and studied aerial photography. As a sergeant first-class, he served thirteen months in France as an instructor in the the use of cameras and was with the Army of Occupation in Germany for four months.
Returning to Rutgers in 1919, Poole continued his studies in plant pathology and received his Doctorate of Philosophy in 1921. The following year, he was appointed associate plant pathologist for the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. In this position, he began his research on diseases of sweet potatoes and other crops.
In 1926, Poole accepted a position at North Carolina State College as associate professor and plant pathologist. In this position, Poole continued his research on plant diseases and concentrated particularly upon crops such as tobacco and peaches during the 1930s.
The Clemson Board of Trustees appointed Poole to succeed Dr. Enoch Sikes in March of 1940. As President of Clemson during the years of World War II and the post-War years, he oversaw major changes in the physical plant of the campus. These included the building of new classrooms and research facilities, a new barracks complex, and the creation of Lake Hartwell through the damming of the Seneca River. During the mid-1950s, the college was de-militarized and several women began enrollment at Clemson.
Poole was active in a large number of professional organizations including: the Southern Phytopathological Society (President 1928), the American Mycology Society, the American Association of University Professors, the Association of Land-Grant Colleges and Universities (President 1950-1951), the Association of Southern Agricultural Workers (President 1948), South Carolina Association of Colleges (President 1947-1948), and the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools (President 1947-1948).
Poole received a number of honors including a Doctor of Science from Clemson in 1937, a Doctor of Laws (Ll.D.) from the University of South Carolina in 1942, a Doctor of Letters (Litt.D.) from Furman in 1950, and a Doctor of Science from the Citadel in 1958. He was a deacon at the Clemson Presbyterian Church and a member of a number of civic clubs such as Rotary, Patrons of Husbandry, and the American Legion.
On February 22, 1921, Poole married Sara Margaret Bradley, the daughter of James Foster Bradley of Abbeville and granddaughter of John E. Bradley, one of Clemson College's first Life Trustees and niece of W.W. Bradley, chairman of the Clemson Board of Trustees during the 1930's. The had five children: Robert Franklin, Jr., Thomas, Margaret, Marsha, and William.
Dr. Poole died on June 6, 1958 of a heart attack. Mrs. Poole died on January 22, 1975.
1.3 Cubic Feet (1 oversize folder, 1 box of photographs, 2 reels of microfilm)
English
The Poole papers are arranged alphabetically by folder title and the correspondence is arranged chronologically within the folder.
The bulk of this collection was transferred to the Cooper Library at Clemson in 1975 after the death of Mrs. Poole who had lived in what was then known as the Old President's House. At that time, the material was divided into three groups: personal and family material, material relating mainly to Poole's career, and a book collection. In 1977, the Library agreed to transfer this material to the custody of Dr. Robert F. Poole, Jr. during a period of Library renovation. Dr. Poole donated those materials primarly related to his father's career to the Clemson University Libraries in 1984 after storing it in his basement for several years. Additional material, particularly some family photographs, was acquired from President Poole's daughter, Mrs. Margaret Cuttino in 1984.
This collection consists of the following accessions: 84-58, 84-86, and 84-91.
Returned to donor.
One box of photographs related to Dr. Poole's career at Clemson, the Poole and Bradley families, and research on peach and tobacco diseases were transferred to Series 100, Special Collections.
One map, "Lands of the Bible Today with Historical Notes," published in Washington, D.C. in the Cartographic Section of the National Geographic Magazine in 1956, was transferred to Public Documents.
Two photocopies of pamphlets, Proceedings of the State Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry of South Carolina, were transferred to Mss 38, Patrons of Husbandry, folder 3, Minutes of the State Grange. The pamphlets were published in Charleston, South Carolina by Walker, Evans, & Cogswell in 1874 and 1876.
This collection consists of material related to Robert Franklin Poole's career as a plant pathologist and educator including his tenure as President of Clemson College, 1940-1958. There are some personal papers and photographs related to the Poole and Bradley families.
This register was prepared by Michael Kohl in 1986.
Part of the Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives Repository