In November 1889, South Carolina Governor John Peter Richardson III signed the bill, thus establishing the Clemson Agricultural College of South Carolina.
As a result, federal funds for agricultural education from the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act and the Hatch Act of 1887 were transferred from South Carolina College (today, the University of South Carolina) to Clemson.
Construction of the college began with Hardin Hall in 1890 and then main classroom buildings in 1891.
Henry Aubrey Strode became the first president of Clemson from 1890 to 1893.
Edwin Craighead succeeded Strode in 1893.
Clemson Agricultural College formally opened in July 1893 with an initial enrollment of 446.
The common curriculum of the first incoming students was English, history, botany, mathematics, physics and agriculture.
Until 1955, the college was also an all-white male military school.

On May 22, 1894, the main building (Tillman Hall) was destroyed by a fire, which consumed the library, classrooms, and offices.
Tillman Hall was rebuilt in 1894 and is still standing today.
The first graduating class of Clemson was in 1896 with degrees in mechanical-electrical engineering and agriculture.
Clemson's first football team began in 1896 led by trainer Walter Riggs.
Henry Hartzog, graduate of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, became president of Clemson in 1897.
Hartzog created a textile department in 1898.
Clemson became the first Southern school to train textile specialists.
Hartzog expanded the curriculum with more industrialization skills such as foundry work, agriculture studies and mechanics.
In 1902 a large student walkout over the use of rigid military discipline escalated tensions between students and faculty forcing Hartzog to resign.
Patrick Mell succeeded Hartzog from 1902 to 1910.

Following the resignation of Mell in 1910 former Clemson Tigers football coach Walter Riggs became president of Clemson from 1910 to 1924.
The Holtzendorff Hall, originally the Holzendorff YMCA, was built in 1914 designed by Rudolph E. Lee of the first graduating class of Clemson in 1896.
In 1915 Riggs Field was dedicated after Walter Riggs and is the Clemson Tigers men's soccer home field.
During World War I enrollment in Clemson declined.
In 1917 Clemson formed a Reserve Officers' Training Corps and in 1918 a Student Army Training Corps was formed.
Effects of World War I made Clemson hire the first women faculty due to changes in faculty.
Riggs accepted a six-month army educational commission in 1919 overseas in France leaving Samuel Earle as acting president.
On March 10, 1920 a large walkout occurred protesting unfair "prison camp" style military discipline.
The 1920 walkout led to the creation of a Department of Student Affairs.
On January 22, 1924 Riggs died on a business trip to Washington, D.C. leaving Earle the acting president.
In October 1924 another walkout of around 500 students occurred when Earle rejected their demands of better food and the dismissal of mess officer Harcombe and the reinstatement of their senior class president.
The 1924 walkout resulted in 23 students dismissed and 112 suspended.

On April 1, 1925 a fire destroyed the interior of the agricultural building and with it many research projects and an agricultural museum.
The exterior of the building survived, leading to the construction of Sikes Hall to hold the library from Tillman Hall.
On May 27, 1926 Mechanical Hall was destroyed in a fire.
Present-day Freeman Hall, built in 1926, was the reconstructed shop building.
In 1928 Riggs Hall was established in honor of Walter Riggs.
President Enoch Sikes increased student enrollment by over 1,000 students and expanded the degree programs with an addition of the first graduate degree.
The Department of Arts and Sciences was formed in 1926 with the addition of modern languages programs.
Programs at Clemson were reorganized into six schools of agriculture, chemistry, engineering, general science, textiles, and vocational studies.
In 1927 Clemson received accreditation from the Association of Secondary Schools and Coll
In November 1889, South Carolina Governor John Peter Richardson III signed the bill, thus establishing the Clemson Agricultural College of South Carolina. As a result, federal funds for agricultural education from the Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Act and the Hatch Act of 1887 were transferred from South Carolina College (today, the University of South Carolina) to Clemson. Construction of the college began with Hardin Hall in 1890 and then main classroom buildings in 1891. Henry Aubrey Strode became the first president of Clemson from 1890 to 1893. Edwin Craighead succeeded Strode in 1893. Clemson Agricultural College formally opened in July 1893 with an initial enrollment of 446. The common curriculum of the first incoming students was English, history, botany, mathematics, physics and agriculture. Until 1955, the college was also an all-white male military school.
On May 22, 1894, the main building (Tillman Hall) was destroyed by a fire, which consumed the library, classrooms, and offices. Tillman Hall was rebuilt in 1894 and is still standing today. The first graduating class of Clemson was in 1896 with degrees in mechanical-electrical engineering and agriculture. Clemson's first football team began in 1896 led by trainer Walter Riggs. Henry Hartzog, graduate of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, became president of Clemson in 1897. Hartzog created a textile department in 1898. Clemson became the first Southern school to train textile specialists. Hartzog expanded the curriculum with more industrialization skills such as foundry work, agriculture studies and mechanics. In 1902 a large student walkout over the use of rigid military discipline escalated tensions between students and faculty forcing Hartzog to resign. Patrick Mell succeeded Hartzog from 1902 to 1910.
Following the resignation of Mell in 1910 former Clemson Tigers football coach Walter Riggs became president of Clemson from 1910 to 1924. The Holtzendorff Hall, originally the Holzendorff YMCA, was built in 1914 designed by Rudolph E. Lee of the first graduating class of Clemson in 1896. In 1915 Riggs Field was dedicated after Walter Riggs and is the Clemson Tigers men's soccer home field. During World War I enrollment in Clemson declined. In 1917 Clemson formed a Reserve Officers' Training Corps and in 1918 a Student Army Training Corps was formed. Effects of World War I made Clemson hire the first women faculty due to changes in faculty. Riggs accepted a six-month army educational commission in 1919 overseas in France leaving Samuel Earle as acting president. On March 10, 1920 a large walkout occurred protesting unfair "prison camp" style military discipline. The 1920 walkout led to the creation of a Department of Student Affairs. On January 22, 1924 Riggs died on a business trip to Washington, D.C. leaving Earle the acting president. In October 1924 another walkout of around 500 students occurred when Earle rejected their demands of better food and the dismissal of mess officer Harcombe and the reinstatement of their senior class president. The 1924 walkout resulted in 23 students dismissed and 112 suspended.
On April 1, 1925 a fire destroyed the interior of the agricultural building and with it many research projects and an agricultural museum. The exterior of the building survived, leading to the construction of Sikes Hall to hold the library from Tillman Hall. On May 27, 1926 Mechanical Hall was destroyed in a fire. Present-day Freeman Hall, built in 1926, was the reconstructed shop building. In 1928 Riggs Hall was established in honor of Walter Riggs. President Enoch Sikes increased student enrollment by over 1,000 students and expanded the degree programs with an addition of the first graduate degree. The Department of Arts and Sciences was formed in 1926 with the addition of modern languages programs. Programs at Clemson were reorganized into six schools of agriculture, chemistry, engineering, general science, textiles, and vocational studies. In 1927 Clemson received accreditation from the Association of Secondary Schools and Coll
Clemson University