Robert C. Edwards had a distinguished career in the textile
industry from 1933-1942 and 1946-1956. In 1956, he returned to his alma mater, Clemson
College as Vice President for Development. Upon the sudden death of President Robert F. Poole
in 1958, Edwards was chosen as Acting President and elected the eighth President the following
year. During his twenty-one year administration, Clemson College changed dramatically:
University status was acquired, African Americans and women were admitted, and six colleges
were established. This sampling contains correspondence while he was president at Clemson and materials collected related to the integration of Harvey Gantt in 1963. The full collection can be found at Clemson University Libraries Special Collections and Archives, Series 11.
