The Strom Thurmond Institute of Government and Public Affairs was born officially on October 29, 1981, when Senator Thurmond announced his decision to place at Clemson University, his alma mater, the papers and memorabilia spanning his more than 65 years of public service.

The Institute houses the Thurmond Collection and serves as the repository for the Special Collections of Clemson University. For its part, Clemson University offers the academic environment required to make maximum use of these valuable records and to conduct the Institute's programs. The Thurmond Collection is a rich treasure for historians and the public. Its value lies in the broad span of time it represents and the comprehensive view it offers of events, people, and movements in the 20th Century American political life.

The Senator's generosity has made possible a creative partnership between the Institute and Clemson University, the fruits of which include a distinguished lecturer program, seminars that show public school teachers how to make government and politics come alive in the classroom, a research program that has addressed regional and national needs, and a selected series that has gained a national reputation.

"I hope that the Institute will not be looked upon as a monument to me, but as a commitment to education, to our youth, to our people, and to the future of our great State and Nation.

It is my hope that this Institute will play an important role in Clemson's continued quest for excellence into the 21st Century.

It is my hope that the Institute will encourage young people to strive, to achieve, to excel, and to dream.

It is my hope that this institute will be a catalyst for public service and better government.

It is my hope that this Institute will be a beacon of light and a source of pride for generations to come."

Senator Strom Thurmond, Institute Building Dedication Ceremony, April 22, 1989

Because Clemson is dedicated to the belief that service to others is the greatest privilege of democracy and that education should enhance freedom, Clemson President Bill L. Atchley announced that the Senator's historic gift would be the first step in the establishment of The Strom Thurmond Center for Excellence in Government and Public Service. The Center's programs will embody the philosophy and values of Senator Thurmond and will be characterized by his pursuit of excellence and undaunted spirit of civic purpose.

"I have given considerable thought to those qualities that Clemson so uniquely imparts to its graduates. I feel very strongly that some of the most basic value foundations of my life were greatly broadened and deeply ingrained while I was a student here. This was really an extension of those personal values that had come to me from my parents...honor, integrity, loyalty, truth and patriotism. These values have served me well during my lifetime and have allowed me to serve others over the years."