The Emerson Knight papers span the years 1932-1954 and include correspondence, reports, photographs, theater programs, drawings and articles. The correspondence and reports from 1936-38 were created during Knight's years working for the National Park Service, and discuss projects such as preserving historic Monterey and the preservation of old trees along the north-south highway to Eureka. Most of the other material in the collection concerns the design, construction, and use of the Mountain Theater on Mount Tamalpais. These items include reports, photographs, programs from the plays, letters, and drawings. There are also photographs of Mission San Juan Bautista, which Knight worked on during his tenure with the California State Park Commission.

Emerson Knight was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1882 and moved to Los Angeles when he was nine years old. His father, William Henry Knight, was an author, astronomer, and California pioneer. In 1913, Knight embarked on a walking tour of England and studied art in Paris. He returned to Los Angeles in 1916, but soon indulged his trekking desire by walking to Monterey, stopping at the California missions along the way.

Publication Rights All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in the collection should be discussed with the Director.

Access Collection is open for research.