Person:Earl Knight (40)

BIOGRAPHY: gwynwhyfr@aol.com ID: I33 Name: Earl Rhodes KNIGHT Sr. Sex: M Birth: 13 MAY 1894 Death: 15 OCT 1967 in Providence, RI Occupation: Mechanical Engineer, Builder Education: Worcester Polytechnic Religion: Baptist NAMS: Earl Rhodes KNIGHT, Jr. Note: Note: Earl designed the disappearing gun used in WWI. He served in WWI. He helped build the Arcade in Providence, RI. He joined his father-in-law's contracting business. He was a Baptist lay preacher.

Taken from the Worcester Polytecknic Institute 1917 YearBook, provided by the Alumni Office of WPI. by e-mail 5/30/03 EARL RHODES KNIGHT "Cap" "Gloom" "Nighty" T B II Mechanic Born May 13, 1894 Providence, R.I. Prep. Providence Technical High School. Treasurer, Student Branch A. S. M. E. (4). It is with hesitancy that we approach this dark subject, but since it is still Earl-y Knight we will continue without fear. To be truthful, Earl is much brighter, both mentall and physically, than his name would indicate. It is not hard to prove the former, for we have simply to refer to his election to Tau Beta Pi, which was the result of his earnest endeavors during his first three years at Tech.

Owing to "Caps" remarkable ability in keeping good notes and the evident pleasure he takes in them, he was chosen to take charge of the untold wealth posessed by the Mechanical Engineering Society, in the capacity of Treasurer. In this position he faithfully performed all sorts of tasks, from selling dinner tickets on the New London trip, to attempting to collect money from the Civil Society.

As a diversion, "Nighty" takes pleasure in writing "reports," and trusting in Providence that they will be approved. Strange to say, as long as he has been compiling these "volumes" he has never had one "returned for corrections." It is evident that the dozen or more "insperations," which are always close to him, have had the desired effect.

There are several ways in which our hero shows his sterling qualities. He has been very consistent in his support of the Y.M.(?)C.A. and its social program. It has ever been his practice to condemn the use of "cuss" words whenever opportunity afforded, and he has been very faithful in living up to his standard.

In spite of the fact that Earl has been very successful in his work at Tech, we are sure that he has a great future before him.

To Providence "Knighty" would drift On the New Haven so terribly swift, With his brain in a swirl And his arms full of girl, Thus the cares of old Tech he would lift.

CENSUS: 1910 United States Federal Census Name: Carl R Knight [Earl R Knight] Age in 1910: 15 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1895 Birthplace: Rhode Island Relation to Head of House: Son Father's Name: Edwin R Father's Birth Place: Rhode Island Mother's Name: Annah C Mother's Birth Place: Massachusetts Home in 1910: Providence Ward 5, Providence, Rhode Island Marital Status: Single Race: White Gender: Male Household Members: Name Age Edwin R Knight 43 Annah C Knight 44 Carl R Knight 15 Source Citation: Year: 1910; Census Place: Providence Ward 5, Providence, Rhode Island; Roll: T624_1443; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 198; Image: 507.

1920 United States Federal Census Name: Earl Knight Home in 1920: Bay Ward 2, Bay, Michigan Age: 25 years Estimated Birth Year: abt 1895 Birthplace: Rhode Island Relation to Head of House: Boarder Father's Birth Place: Rhode Island Mother's Birth Place: Ohio Marital Status: Married Race: White Sex: Male Able to read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Image: 156 Household Members: Name Age Jenne Harris 49 John Harris 24 Earl Knight 25 Dorothy Knight 35 William Watson 34 Mary V Watson 32 Virginia Watson 6 Carolyn Watson 3 4/12 Source Citation: Year: 1920;Census Place: Bay Ward 2, Bay, Michigan; Roll: T625_755; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 56; Image: 156.

1930 United States Federal Census Name: Earl R Knight Home in 1930: Providence, Providence, Rhode Island Age: 35 Estimated Birth Year: abt 1895 Birthplace: Rhode Island Relation to Head of House: Head Spouse's Name: Dorothy A Race: White Occupation: Building Engineer Household Members: Name Age Earl R Knight 35 Dorothy A Knight 35 Earl R Knight 7 Jane G Knight 5 Robert E Knight Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Providence, Providence, Rhode Island; Roll: 2178; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 40; Image: 265.0.

DRAFT: World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 September 17, 2004 9:48 AM Name: Earl R Knight City: Providence County: Providence State: Rhode Island Birthplace: Rhode Island;United States of America Birth Date: 13 May 1894 Race: Caucasian Roll: 1852405 DraftBoard: 5 Age: 26 Occupation: Student Nearest Relative: Registration Place: Providence,Providence,Rhode Island Height: Medium Build: Slender Color of Eyes: Grey Color of Hair: Brown Source Information: Ancestry.com. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-18 [database online] Provo, UT: Ancestry.com, 2002. National Archives and Records Administration. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. M1509, 20,243 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration.

U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 Record Name: Earl Rhodes Knight Birth Date: 13 May 1894 Residence: Cor. Smith & Orchard Aves.,Greenville,Providence, Rhode Island Birth: Providence, Rhode Island Race: White Roll: WW2_2368487 S/N:625 Phone Number: Centredale 0268 W Manchester & Hudson Co. 573 Eddy St. Providence,R.I.

MEDIA: J0041 - Earl Rhodes Knight wedding photo - The photo of Earl Rhodes Knight is on loan from the collection of Steve Knight norrisami@aol.com