Person:Samuel Knight (100)

BIOGRAPHY: American Heritage Center University of Wyoming S.H. Knight: Mr. Wyoming University http://ahc.uwyo.edu/exhibits/knight/index.htm Samuel H. Knight’s (1892-1975) association with the University of Wyoming began very early in his life. His father was a professor of geology and mining from 1893 until his untimely death in 1903, and his mother, Emma Howell Knight, was the Dean of Women from 1910 to 1920. Knight enrolled at U.W. in 1907 as a preparatory student and he went on to receive a B.S. in 1913. Knight then left for graduate school at Columbia University in New York. He finished his course work in 1916 and the University of Wyoming named him an assistant professor of geology and curator of the Geological Museum. During his 50 year career with the University of Wyoming Knight earned the nickname "Mr. Wyoming University." Knight helped to design and promote the construction of a new geology building and to expand the Geological Museum. Not only did he create an outstanding, nationally recognized Geology Department, but he also promoted the University of Wyoming to the nation and the world.

World War I Service and Early Teaching Career

In 1917 Knight left Laramie once again, this time to serve in World War I with military intelligence, but after the war he returned and he remained as the head of the Geology Department until his retirement in 1963. After retirement he put in three more years as a professor emeritus.

After completing his coursework at Columbia, Knight returned to Wyoming to work as an assistant professor of Geology and Curator of the Geological Museum at a salary of $125 a month. In 1917 Knight was promoted to full professor.

http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/a&salumni/people/s-knight.html Doc" Knight was a superb classroom teacher, famous for his ability to sketch in three dimensions on a chalk board while lecturing, and revered by the estimated 12,000 students who passed under his tutelage during his 50 years in the Geology department at UW. As a driving force in developing a nationally recognized department, Dr. Knight oversaw the creation of the department’s master's and Ph.D. programs, and planned and helped construct what would become known as the S.H. Knight Summer Science Camp.

The farsightedness of his research was acknowledged by his peers: among his honors, he was distinguished lecturer for the American Association of Petroleum Geologists on two national tours. Recognizing that much of the fossil material found in Wyoming was exported for display elsewhere, he devoted immense effort to enlarging the University collections and to creating the Geological Museum. He restored and mounted its centerpiece, the 75-foot-long Apatosaurus. He also designed and built the life-sized Tyrannosaurus near the museum’s entrance.

To honor this great teacher, researcher, and leader, the University named the geology building after him in 1974. Dr. Knight died in 1975.

Samuel Knight was selected as the winner in the Healthcare, Science & Technology Category. Within the field of geology and geophysics, Knight’s contributions were numerous. He was at the forefront of his field in the use of interpretive studies and his research on the rock formations of southeastern Wyoming is still considered groundbreaking.

Citizen of the Century Winner On October 31, 1999, Samuel Knight was announced as the Wyoming Citizen of the Century. Knight was instrumental in establishing the University of Wyoming Department of Geology and Geophysics as among the best in the nation. The legacy of Knight’s work remains visible to visitors to the university. He painted the large murals in the university’s Geology Museum and mounted the apatosaurus that remains among the museum’s most important displays and constructed a campus landmark, the large, copper plated tyrannosaurus rex.

CENSUS: 1920 United States Federal Census Name: Samuel H Knight Home in 1920: Laramie Ward 2, Albany, Wyoming Age: 27 years Estimated birth year: abt 1893 Birthplace: Wyoming Relation to Head of House: Head Spouse's name: Edwina H Father's Birth Place: Nebraska Mother's Birth Place: Canada Marital Status: Married Race: White Sex: Male Home owned: Own Able to read: Yes Able to Write: Yes Image: 103 Household Members: Name Age Samuel H Knight 27 Edwina H Knight 25 Source Citation: Year: 1920;Census Place: Laramie Ward 2, Albany, Wyoming; Roll: T625_2025; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 5; Image: 103.

1930 United States Federal Census Name: Samuel H Knight Home in 1930: West Laramie, Albany, Wyoming Age: 37 Estimated birth year: abt 1893 Birthplace: Wyoming Relation to Head of House: Head Spouse's name: Edwina H Race: White Occupation:Professor Wyoming State University Household Members: Name Age Samuel H Knight 37 Edwina H Knight 35 Wilbur Knight 8 Eleanor Knight 9 Edward H Hall 71 Harry A Stone 23 Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: West Laramie, Albany, Wyoming; Roll: 2621; Page: 15B; Enumeration District: 6; Image: 110.0.

DRAFT: World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Name: Samuel Howell Knight City:Laramie County: Albany State: Wyoming Birthplace: Wyoming;United States of America Birth Date: 31 Jul 1892 Race: Caucasian (White) Roll: 1993029 DraftBoard: 0 Age:24 Occupation:Professor of Geology - Wyoming Univ. Nearest Relative:Wife Height/Build:Tall/Medium Color of Eyes/Hair:Brown/Brown Source Citation: Registration Location: Albany County, Wyoming; Roll: 1993029; Draft Board: 0.

PASSPORT: The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation Passenger Record First Name: Samuel H Last Name: Knight Ethnicity: USA Last Place of Residence: Laramie, Wyo Date of Arrival: Oct 18, 1918 Age at Arrival: 26y Gender: M Marital Status: M Ship of Travel: Rochambeau Port of Departure: Bordeaux Manifest Line Number: 0010

MEDIA: D0048 - Samuel Knight - Geology Class field trip 1912, Samuel H. Knight is 3 from right side http://ahc.uwyo.edu/exhibits/knight/index.htm D0050 - Samuel H. Knight and Thurmond Arnold on a World War 1 tank in 1918, towards the end of the war both men toured with the tank in order to sell war bonds. http://ahc.uwyo.edu/exhibits/knight/index.htm D0051 - Samuel Howell Knight - University Wyoming Geology Dept. 1916 http://ahc.uwyo.edu/exhibits/knight/index.htm D0052 - "Doc" Knight - Samuel Howell Knight http://uwadmnweb.uwyo.edu/a&salumni/people/s-knight.html D0047A - Samuel Howell Knight 1909 Wyoming cropped from D0047