Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Knowland, Joseph R. (Joseph Russell), 1873-1966
- Abstract:
- The Joseph R. Knowland Papers document the career of an American politician, newspaper owner, and civic leader. He served five terms, from 1905-1915, in the United States House of Representatives as Congressman for California's district encompassing Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano counties, and spent over 50 years as owner, president, publisher and editor of the Oakland Tribune.
- Extent:
- Number of containers: 46 cartons, 2 oversize folders Linear feet: 57.7 linear feet
- Language:
- Collection materials are in English
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Joseph Knowland Papers consist of files Knowland compiled during his career as a politician, newspaper owner, and civic leader. The bulk of the collection is comprised of Knowland's personal and professional correspondence, as well as materials documenting his work in the United States House of Representatives as Congressman for the California district encompassing Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano counties, and his tenure as owner, editor, president and publisher of the Oakland Tribune. Also prominent in the collection are Knowland's financial records; political files, including those regarding his son, William's, campaigns and political career; and materials documenting his work on various government commissions, including the California State Park Commission, and membership in various civic organizations, especially the Native Sons of the Golden West. The collection encompasses a range of materials-including correspondence, legislative addresses and hearings, financial records, and ephemera-most notably documenting his involvement in: California State Parks, as well as the state's historic landmarks; politics and business in Alameda County and the city of Oakland; San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge; and Golden Gate International Exposition.
The Joseph Knowland Papers are subdivided into seven series:
- Series I: Correspondence
- Series II: Family and Personal Files
- Series III: Oakland Tribune
- Series IV: Financial Files
- Series V: Congressional and Political Files
- Series VI: Government Commissions
- Series VII: Civic and Fraternal Organizations
- Biographical / historical:
-
Joseph R. Knowland (1873-1966) was an American politician, newspaper owner and civic leader. He served five terms in the United States House of Representatives as Congressman for California's district encompassing Alameda, Contra Costa and Solano counties; prior to that he served two terms in the California State Assembly and a single term in the California State Senate. After leaving politics, Knowland bought the Oakland Tribune and began a long career as its editor, president and publisher, as well as being greatly involved in many local and state organizations.
Born on August 5, 1873 in Alameda, California, Knowland attended local schools before completing his education at the San Jose campus of the University of the Pacific in 1895 and going to work in his father's wholesale lumber and shipping business. Knowland married the first of his three wives, Elinor Fife, in 1894; he and Elinor had three children together: Elinor Knowland Lion, Joseph Russell Knowland, Jr. and William F. Knowland (who went on to become a United States Senator). After the death of his first wife in 1908, Knowland married Emelyn West, who passed away in 1950. He married his third wife, Clarice Cook, in 1952.
Knowland's political career began with his election to the California State Assembly in 1898, where he served 2 terms before he was elected to California State Senate in 1902, where served only part of his first term. In September 1904, Knowland won a special election to the House of Representatives to replace Victor Metcalf, who had been appointed been appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt to be Secretary of Commerce and Labor. Not surprisingly, considering the coastal location of his district and his family's business interests, Knowland was very interested in shipping and trade during his time in Congress, and focused especially on the Panama Canal, as well as the United States Navy and its local bases. In 1914, Knowland was defeated in his bid for a seat on United States Senate, which effectively ended his political career, although he continued to hold his office in Congress until 1915 and attended every Republican National Convention from 1908 to 1956.
In November 1915, Knowland bought the Oakland Tribune and became the newspaper's president, publisher and editor. In addition to his newspaper duties, Knowland remained very active in the community and state. Having joined the Native Sons of the Golden West while he was still a teenager, Knowland served as chairman of its Historic Landmarks Committee for 60 years, from 1902-1962; in 1941, he published a book recounting the efforts of the committee, entitled: California: A Landmark History. Knowland was also a longtime member of the California State Park Commission, serving as chairman 1938-1960, and was appointed to the finance committees for the construction of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate International Exposition of 1939-1940. Knowland was also notably active in: California Centennials Council, California Historical Society, California State Chamber of Commerce, California State Automobile Association, Oakland Chamber of Commerce, Oakland Community Chest, Mills College Board of Trustees, Oakland National Horse Show, and Athens Athletic Club.
Knowland died on February 1, 1966.
- Acquisition information:
- The Joseph R. Knowland Papers were given to The Bancroft Library by Emelyn Jewett in 1979.
- Physical location:
- Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
- Rules or conventions:
- Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
-
University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft LibraryBerkeley, CA 94720-6000, US
- Contact:
- 510-642-6481