Special Collections Department
403 Parks Library
Iowa State University
Ames, IA 50011-2140

RS 13/25/56
Harry H. Knight (1889-1976)
Papers, 1924-1976, undated


Descriptive summary

creator: Knight, Harry H. (1889-1976)
title: Papers
dates: 1924-1976, undated
extent: 11.34 linear feet (26 document boxes, 2 half-document boxes)
collection number: RS 13/25/56
repository: University Archives, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University.

 

Administrative information

access: Open for research
publication rights: Consult Head, Special Collections Department
preferred citation: Harry H. Knight Papers, RS 13/25/56, Special Collections Department, Iowa State University Library.

 

Abstract

Harry H. Knight (1889-1976) was born in Koshkonong, Missouri, on May 13, 1889. He received his B.S. (1914) and his Ph.D. (1920) from Cornell University. Knight served in the United States Army (1917-1919) as a member of the Aerial Photo Section of the Air Service. He was named Associate Professor (1924-1934) in the Department of Zoology and Entomology at Iowa State College (University) and promoted to Professor (1934-1971). Knight was noted for breeding and growing gladioli and owned and operated a nursery called Riverside Gardens in Ames from which he grew and sold gladiolus bulbs. This collection contains subject files, photographs, negatives, correspondence, gladiolus notes, business ledgers, and order books. The majority of the collection reflects Knight's avid interest in gladioli, his associations with state and national gladiolus societies, and his ownership of Riverside Gardens.

 

Biographical note

Harry Hazelton Knight was born in Koshkonong, Missouri, on May 13, 1889. He attended Southwest Missouri State Teachers' College for two years and continued his education at Cornell University where he earned his B.S. (1914) and his Ph.D. (1920).

Knight was first employed by the Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station as an Investigator (1916-1917) in entomology. Knight served in the United States Army (1917-1919) as a member of the Aerial Photo Section of the Air Service. After he was discharged from the military, Knight was named Assistant Professor (1919) of Entomology at the University of Minnesota and was promoted to Associate Professor (1920-1924). Knight joined the faculty at Iowa State College (University) as an Associate Professor (1924-1934) of Entomology in the Department of Zoology and Entomology. He was later promoted to Professor (1934-1976).

Knight was a respected member of the faculty and a well-known figure in the field of entomology. He authored 182 scientific publications, many of them dealing with the systematics of plant bugs. He served as President (1948) of the Entomological Society of America and was later made an honorary member (1967). He received a Faculty Citation (1956) from the Iowa State Alumni Association.

Knight was a noted gladiolus grower and expended a great deal of effort in this venture. He belonged to numerous gladiolus organizations including the Iowa Gladiolus Society, the Iowa State Horticultural Society, and the North American Gladiolus Council. He also owned and operated his own gladiolus nursery called Riverside Gardens in Ames, Iowa. He received the Gold Medal award (1956) from the Gladiolus Council of America for developing the White Knight Gladiolus.

Knight married Jessie Mae Kite and they had two sons: Harold and Roland. Harry Knight died September 6, 1976.

 

Collection description

The collection (1924-1976, undated) contains subject files, photographs, negatives, correspondence, gladiolus notes, business ledgers, and order books. The majority of the collection reflects Knight's avid interest in gladioli including materials regarding numerous organizations such as the North American Gladiolus Federation, Iowa Gladiolus Society, Ames Gladiolus Society, Illinois Gladiolus Society, Empire State Gladiolus Society, Canadian Gladiolus Society, and the Gladiolus Growers Council. The collection also contains correspondence, ledgers, and notebooks regarding Knight's ownership of Riverside Gardens in Ames.

 

Related materials

Much of the materials related to Knight's research efforts in entomology were donated to the Smithsonian Institute.

 

Organization

This collection (1924-1976, undated) is loosely organized by genre into correspondence, personal files, performance records, information on organizations, Riverside Gardens, and his interest in gladiolus societies

 

Container list

Box

Folder

Title

Dates

1

1

Personal Information

1948-1976, undated

1

2

Articles

undated

1

3

Articles

1945-1963

1

4

Clippings

1938-1975, undated

1

5

Negatives: Flowers and Garden (11 b/w)

undated

1

6

Photographs: Family, House, Flowers, and Garden (32 b/w)

undated

1

7

Photographs: Family, Flowers, and Garden (48 b/w)

undated

1

8

Photos: Banquet, Gladiolus Show and Garden (51 b/w)

undated

1

9

Ribbons

1941-1960

1

10

Slides: Flowers (89 color)

1958, undated

2

1

Correspondence: Business (Orders)

undated

2

2

Correspondence: Business (Orders)

1925-1933

2

3

Correspondence: Business (Orders)

1934

2

4

Correspondence: Business (Orders)

1935

2

5

Correspondence: Business (Orders)

1936

2

6

Correspondence: Business (Orders)

1937

2

7

Correspondence: Business (Orders)

1938

2

8

Correspondence: Business (Orders)

1939

2

9

Correspondence: Business (Orders)

1940

2

10

Correspondence: Business (Orders)

1941

2

11

Correspondence: Business (Orders)

1942

2

12

Correspondence: Business (Orders)

1943

3

1

Correspondence: Business (January)

1944

3

2

Correspondence: Business (February)

1944

3

3

Correspondence: Business (March)

1944

3

4

Correspondence: Business (April-May)

1944

3

5

Correspondence: Business (June-August)

1944

3

6

Correspondence: Business (September-October)

1944

3

7

Correspondence: Business (November)

1944

3

8

Correspondence: Business (December)

1944

3

9

Correspondence: Business (January)

1945

4

1

Correspondence: Business (February)

1945

4

2

Correspondence: Business (March)

1945

4

3

Correspondence: Business (April)

1945

4

4

Correspondence: Business (May)

1945

4

5

Correspondence: Business (June-July)

1945

4

6

Correspondence: Business (August-September)

1945

4

7

Correspondence: Business (October)

1945

4

8

Correspondence: Business (November)

1945

4

9

Correspondence: Business (December)

1945

5

1

Correspondence: Business (January)

1946

5

2

Correspondence: Business (February)

1946

5

3

Correspondence: Business (March)

1946

5

4

Correspondence: Business (April)

1946

5

5

Correspondence: Business (May-June)

1946

5

6

Correspondence: Business (July-August)

1946

5

7

Correspondence: Business (September-October)

1946

5

8

Correspondence: Business (November-December)

1946

6

1

Correspondence: Business (January)

1947

6

2

Correspondence: Business (February)

1947

6

3

Correspondence: Business (March)

1947

6

4

Correspondence: Business (April-May)

1947

6

5

Correspondence: Business (June-September)

1947

6

6

Correspondence: Business (October-December)

1947

6

7

Correspondence: Business (January)

1948

6

8

Correspondence: Business (February)

1948

7

1

Correspondence: Business (March)

1948

7

2

Correspondence: Business (April-June)

1948

7

3

Correspondence: Business (July-September)

1948

7

4

Correspondence: Business (October-November)

1948

7

5

Correspondence: Business (December)

1948

7

6

Correspondence: Business (January)

1949

7

7

Correspondence: Business (February)

1949

7

8

Correspondence: Business (March)

1949

7

9

Correspondence: Business (April-June)

1949

7

10

Correspondence: Business (July-September)

1949

7

11

Correspondence: Business (October-December)

1949

8

1

Correspondence: Business (January)

1950

8

2

Correspondence: Business (February-March)

1950

8

3

Correspondence: Business (April-May)

1950

8

4

Correspondence: Business (June-September)

1950

8

5

Correspondence: Business (October-November)

1950

8

6

Correspondence: Business (December)

1950

8

7

Correspondence: Business (January)

1951

8

8

Correspondence: Business (February)

1951

8

9

Correspondence: Business (March)

1951

9

1

Correspondence: Business (April-June)

1951

9

2

Correspondence: Business (July-September)

1951

9

3

Correspondence: Business (October-November)

1951

9

4

Correspondence: Business (December)

1951

9

5

Correspondence: Business (January-February)

1952

9

6

Correspondence: Business (March-May)

1952

9

7

Correspondence: Business (June-October)

1952

9

8

Correspondence: Business (November-December)

1952

9

9

Correspondence: Business (January-February)

1953

10

1

Correspondence: Business (March-July)

1953

10

2

Correspondence: Business (August-December)

1953

10

3

Correspondence: Business (January-February)

1954

10

4

Correspondence: Business (March-June)

1954

10

5

Correspondence: Business (July-December)

1954

10

6

Correspondence: Business (January-February)

1955

10

7

Correspondence: Business (March-April)

1955

10

8

Correspondence: Business (May-August)

1955

10

9

Correspondence: Business (September-December)

1955

11

1

Correspondence: Business (January-February)

1956

11

2

Correspondence: Business (March-June)

1956

11

3

Correspondence: Business (July-December)

1956

11

4

Correspondence: Business

1957

11

5

Correspondence: Business

1958

11

6

Correspondence: Business (January-May)

1959

11

7

Correspondence: Business (June-December)

1959

11

8

Correspondence: Business

1960

12

1

Correspondence: Business

1961

12

2

Correspondence: Business

1962

12

3

Correspondence: Business

1963

12

4

Correspondence: Business

1964

12

5

Correspondence: Business

1965-1973

13

1

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1934-1943

13

2

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1944

13

3

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1944

13

4

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1944

13

5

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1944-1945

13

6

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1945

13

7

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1945

13

8

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1945

13

9

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1945

13

10

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1945

14

1

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1946

14

2

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1946

14

3

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1946

14

4

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1946

14

5

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1946

14

6

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1946

14

7

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1946

14

8

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1947

14

9

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1947

15

1

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1947

15

2

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1947

15

3

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1947

15

4

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1948

15

5

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1948

15

6

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1948

15

7

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1948

15

8

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1948

15

9

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1949

15

10

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1949

16

1

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1949

16

2

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1949

16

3

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1950

16

4

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1950

16

5

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1950

16

6

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1950

16

7

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1951

16

8

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1951

16

9

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1951

16

10

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1952

16

11

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1952

17

1

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1953

17

2

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1953

17

3

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1953

17

4

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1954

17

5

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1954

17

6

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1955

17

7

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1956-1958

17

8

Correspondence: Riverside Gardens - Postcards

1959-1967

18

1

Correspondence: Personal - Greeting Cards

undated

18

2

Correspondence: Personal - Greeting Cards

undated

18

3

Correspondence: Personal - Sympathy Cards

undated

18

4

Correspondence: Personal - Sympathy Cards

undated

18

5

Correspondence: Personal - Letters and Postcards

1939-1956, undated

18

6

Correspondence: Personal - Telegrams

1946

18 7 Correspondence: Wallace, Henry A. undated

19

1

Gladiolus Notes

undated

19

2

Gladiolus Notes

1951-1953, undated

19

3

Field Reports/Summary of Premiums

1942, undated

19

4

Judges' Score Sheets (American Gladiolus Selections)

1963

19

5

Performance Records

1941-1951, undated

19

6

Performance Records

1952-1954

19

7

Performance Records

1955-1957

19

8

Performance Records

1958-1959

19

9

Performance Records

1960-1961

19

10

Performance Records

1962-1965

20

1

Organizations: Algona Gladiolus Society

1941

20

2

Organizations: American Dahlia Society

1939

20

3

Organizations: American Legion

1942-1948

20

4

Organizations: Ames Gladiolus Society

1938-1952

20

5

Organizations: Canadian Gladiolus Society

1947-1961

20

6

Organizations: City of Ames

1943-1948, undated

20

7

Organizations: Connecticut Gladiolus Society

1948-1949

20

8

Organizations: Empire State Gladiolus Society

1949-1974, undated

20

9

Organizations: Gladiolus Growers Council

1947-1949, undated

20

10

Organizations: Goose Lake Duck Shooting Club/Ducks Unlimited

1944

20

11

Organizations: Hybridizer's Guild Trials

1954-1963

20

12

Organizations: Illinois Gladiolus Society

1946-1948

20

13

Organizations: Iowa Gladiolus Society - Classification Committee

1945, undated

20

14

Organizations: Iowa Gladiolus Society - Classifications

1937-1941

20

15

Organizations: Iowa Gladiolus Society - Minutes and Memberships

1938-1953

20

16

Organizations: Iowa Gladiolus Society - Publications

1944

20

17

Organizations: Iowa Gladiolus Society - Shows

1936-1950, undated

20

18

Organizations: Iowa Horticultural Society - Awards

1957-1963

20

19

Organizations: Iowa State Horticultural Society - Budget

1957-1960

20

20

Organizations: Iowa State Horticultural Society - By-Laws and Membership

1938-1959, undated

20

21

Organizations: Iowa State Horticultural Society - Meeting Minutes

1954-1970

20

22

Organizations: Iowa State Horticultural Society - Publications

1948-1958

20

23

Organizations: Iowa State Horticultural Society - Reports

1958-1962, undated

20

24

Organizations: Izaak Walton League

1949-1950, undated

21

1

Organizations: Missouri Gladiolus Society

1954, undated

21

2

Organizations: National Classification Committee

1944-1945, undated

21

3

Organizations: Nebraska Gladiolus Society

1949-1955

21

4

Organizations: New England Gladiolus Society

1934-1943, undated

21

5

Organizations: North American Gladiolus Council

1969

21

6

Organizations: North American Gladiolus Council - Bulb Auctions

1948-1958

21

7

Organizations: North American Gladiolus Council - Classification Committee

1946-1961

21

8

Organizations: North American Gladiolus Council - Classification Committee

1945-1953

21

9

Organizations: North American Gladiolus Council - Classification Committee

1954-1961

21

10

Organizations: North American Gladiolus Council - Classification Committee

undated

21

11

Organizations: North American Gladiolus Council - Classification Committee

1938-1947, undated

21

12

Organizations: North American Gladiolus Council - Constitution Registry

undated

21

13

Organizations: North American Gladiolus Council - Conventions/Shows/Reports

1946-1957

21

14

Organizations: North American Gladiolus Council - 14th Annual Convention

1959

21

15

Organizations: North American Gladiolus Council - Correspondence

1948, undated

21

16

Organizations: North American Gladiolus Council - Minutes

1946-1948, undated

21

17

Organizations: North American Gladiolus Council - Registration Certificates

1947-1967

21

18

Organizations: North American Gladiolus Council - Joint Research Committee

1947-1954

21

19

Organizations: North American Gladiolus Federation - N.E.G.C. Conference

1944

21

19a

Organizations: North American Gladiolus Federation - General

1944-1947

21

20

Organizations: North American Gladiolus Growers

1953-1955

21

21

Organizations: Ohio State Gladiolus Society

1942-1947

21

22

Organizations: Osborn Research Club

1920-1957

21

23

Organizations: Pennsylvania Railroad Garden Club

1947

21

24

Organizations: Sioux City Gladiolus Society

1948-1952, undated

21

25

Organizations: Story County Kid's Fishing Contest

undated

21

26

Organizations: Waterloo Gladiolus Society

1952, undated

22

1

Riverside Gardens: Advertisements and Pricelist

1948-1955

22

2

Riverside Gardens: Awards and Inspections

1944-1965, undated

23

1

Riverside Gardens: Journals and Ledgers

1938

23

2

Riverside Gardens: Journals and Ledgers

1939-1940

23

3

Riverside Gardens: Journals and Ledgers

1941-1942

23

4

Riverside Gardens: Journals and Ledgers

1941-1943

23

5

Riverside Gardens: Journals and Ledgers

1943-1944

23

6

Riverside Gardens: Notebooks

1929-1934, undated

23

7

Riverside Gardens: Notebooks

1942-1946

24

1

Riverside Gardens: Notebooks

1947

24

2

Riverside Gardens: Notebooks

1948

24

3

Riverside Gardens: Notebooks

1949-1951

24

4

Riverside Gardens: Notebooks

1952-1955

24

5

Riverside Gardens: Notebooks

1956-1959

24

6

Riverside Gardens: Notebooks

1960-1963

24

7

Riverside Gardens: Notebooks

1957-1963

25

1

Riverside Gardens: Order Books

1944-1952

25

2

Riverside Gardens: Order Books

1946

25

3

Riverside Gardens: Order Books

1947

25

4

Riverside Gardens: Order Books

1947-1949

25

5

Riverside Gardens: Order Books

1948-1949

25

6

Riverside Gardens: Order Books

1949-1950

25

7

Riverside Gardens: Order Books

1951

26

1

Riverside Gardens: Order Books

1952

26

2

Riverside Gardens: Order Books

1953

26

3

Riverside Gardens: Order Books

1954

26

4

Riverside Gardens: Order Books

1955-1960

27

1

Riverside Gardens: Orders - Gladiolus

1949

27

2

Riverside Gardens: Orders - Gladiolus

1949

27

3

Riverside Gardens: Orders - Gladiolus

1950

27

4

Riverside Gardens: Orders - Gladiolus

1950

27

5

Riverside Gardens: Orders - Gladiolus

1951

27

6

Riverside Gardens: Orders - Gladiolus

1952

27

7

Riverside Gardens: Orders - Gladiolus

1953

27

8

Riverside Gardens: Orders - Gladiolus

1954

27

9

Riverside Gardens: Orders - Gladiolus

1955

27

10

Riverside Gardens: Orders - Gladiolus

1956

27

11

Riverside Gardens: Receipts - General

1924-1948, undated

27

12

Riverside Gardens: Receipts - General

1949-1955

27

13

Riverside Gardens: Receipts - Gladiolus

1933-1948

27

14

Riverside Gardens: Receipts - Gladiolus

1949-1959

27

15

Riverside Gardens: Receipts - Railway Express Agency

1945-1947

28

1

Riverside Gardens: Gladiolus - Bulb Lists, general

undated

28

2

Riverside Gardens: Gladiolus - Bulb Testing

undated

28

3

Riverside Gardens: Gladiolus - Certified Glad Growers

1942, undated

28

4

Riverside Gardens: Gladiolus - Color Classes and Color Charts

undated

28

5

Riverside Gardens: Gladiolus - Iowa Gladiolus Society Size and Color Classification and Varieties

undated

28

6

Riverside Gardens: Gladiolus - Minnesota Gladiolus Society Seeding Show and Judging School

1958

28

7

Riverside Gardens: Gladiolus - New England Gladiolus Society Comments on the Proposed Classified List of Varieties

undated

28

8

Riverside Gardens: Gladiolus - North American Gladiolus Council Score Sheets

1959-1958, undated

28

9

Riverside Gardens: Gladiolus - North American Gladiolus Society Performance Record

undated

28

10

Riverside Gardens: Gladiolus - Notes on Gladiolus

undated

28

11

Riverside Gardens: Gladiolus - Quarterly Price List per 100 Bulbs

undated

28

12

Riverside Gardens: Gladiolus - Record Sheets

undated

28

13

Riverside Gardens: Gladiolus - Select Collections

undated

28

14

Riverside Gardens: Gladiolus - Summary of Premiums

undated

28

15

Riverside Gardens: Gladiolus - Variety Name Lists

1954, undated