Historical Synopsis
  The herbarium of Clemson University was initially organized between the turn of the century and 1905 by a group of early botanists who lectured and were often called upon to identify plant specimens for the general public. The herbarium (a collection of pressed, dried plants and plant parts) was used to verify identifications and keep a more or less permanent documentation of the flora of South Carolina. These are still the primary uses of the Clemson University herbarium today.

Although the names of the people who initiated the herbarium are not known, it is known that the building housing the natural history collections (Sikes Hall) burned in 1925, almost totally destroying the plant collection. At the point, the task of rebuilding the herbarium was left to Mr. Duane B. Rosenkrans and Mr. Myron A. Rice, both professors at Clemson University. Mr. Rice remained at Clemson until 1938 when he left for Cornell University to pursue a Ph.D. Mr. Rosenkarns remained on faculty for over 40 years, retiring in 1975. Both men contributed numerous specimens to the Clemson Herbarium, thus contributing to our botanical knowledge of the "palmetto state". Another noteworthy professor of this period, Mr. Henry W. Barre, taught a course in "cryptogamic botany" and probably was instrumental in starting the mycology (fungus) collections. Most importantly, he saved this part of the collection from the fire of 1925.

During this period, faculty members performed double duty as curators of the herbarium, a role that involved collection, identification, and preparation of specimens, plus maintenance and organization of the collection itself. Two professor/curators of recent times include Dr. Andrew C. Matthews, who served as curator from 1957 to 1968, and Dr. John E. Fairey III, who carried the duties of professor and curator from 1968 to 1977, when Caroline C. Douglass was hired in the curator's position. Dr. Steven R. Hill replaced her in 1987. In 1995, Mr. John F. Townsend assumed the title of curator and in 2001 Patrick D. McMillan filled the position.

The mission of the herbarium continues to be documentation of the flora of South Carolina and the southeastern United States, but a growing percentage of Clemson's herbarium specimens come from other regions of the country as well as other parts of the world. The Clemson Herbarium is a crucial resource for the identification of plant specimens and an important source of plant material for classroom instruction. Botanists from the southeast and across the nation often borrow specimens from Clemson's herbarium for use in plant research.