Guide to the Papers of Philander Chase Knox, 1846-1920
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Papers of Philander Chase Knox
- Creator
- Knox, Philander Chase (1853-1921)
- Collection Number
- MSS#72
- Extent
- .25 cubic feet (1 box)
- Date
- 1846-1920
- Abstract
- Philander C. Knox was a national political figure who held the positions of United States Secretary of State, United States Attorney General, and United States Senator from Pennsylvania. The bulk of the materials are copies of speeches given by Mr. Knox during his appointment in office. These materials give us a glimpse of Mr. Knox's political career but very little information about his personal life.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This finding aid has been encoded as a part of the Historic Pittsburgh project a joint effort of the University of Pittsburgh and the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Funding for this portion of the project has been donated by the Hillman Foundation.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
Biographical Sketch of Philander C. Knox
Philander C. Knox (1853-1921), was the son of David Smith Knox and Rebecca Page Knox. He was born in Brownsville, Fayette County, PA. Mr. Knox was a student at West Virginia University and graduated from Mount Union College, Alliance, Ohio, at age 19. His Alma Mater bestowed on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Law at the commencement of 1901.
Mr. Knox was admitted to the bar of Allegheny County on the motion of his partner David Reed. At age 23, Mr. Knox was appointed assistant U.S. District Attorney for the western district of Pennsylvania on March 1, 1875. He resigned from this position on July 1, 1876. He remained in his private law practice throughout his appointment as district attorney until 1901. He declined the appointment of Attorney General in the McKinley cabinet in 1897, but accepted when it was offered again in 1901. He remained in this office under Theodore Roosevelt.
After serving as Roosevelt's Attorney General for one term Mr. Knox's political career took several turns but always remained on the national level. Pennsylvania governor Pennypacker appointed him to serve U.S. Senator Matthew Stanley Quay's unexpired term on June 10, 1904. In 1905, he was reelected to that post for a second term. However, Knox resigned from this position in 1909 before it was completed to become Secretary of State under President William Howard Taft. Perhaps it was Senator Knox's ability to garner 68 votes for the presidential nomination at the 1908 Republican National Convention that impressed Taft. In 1916 he returned to the U.S. Senate for the term 1916-1922. Unfortunately, before completion of his term he passed away on October 12, 1921. Among the numerous appointments that were offered to him he declined a seat on the United States Supreme Court.
Scope and Content Notes
The papers are arranged alphabetically by folder title with miscellaneous material arranged toward the rear. The material includes correspondence, educational material, speeches, and miscellaneous material. The bulk of the materials are copies of speeches given by Mr. Knox during his appointment in office. Included is a folder of correspondence between Mr. Knox while in office as Attorney General, included correspondence to and from Honorable William Loeb, Jr. Secretary to Theodore Roosevelt. The Miscellaneous articles are of Mr. Knox's candidacy for Presidency in 1908. These materials give us a glimpse of Mr. Knox's political career but very little information about his personal life.
Arrangement
The Philander C. Knox papers are housed in one archival box and arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased by the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania in 1969.
Preferred Citation
Papers of Philander Chase Know, 1846-1920, MSS# 72, Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Historical Society Staff in c1969. Papers rearranged and inventory rewritten by Julia A. Pretti on October 13, 1993.
Revision and rearrangement for the encoded version of the finding aid provided by Doug MacGregor on December 28, 2001.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or publish, please contact the curator of the Archives.
Subjects
- Panama Canal (Panama)
- Knox, Philander Chase (1853-1921)
- Knox, David S (1805-1872)
- Knox, Elizabeth Kidoo
- Knox, William F. (1931-1915)
- Pepper, William S. (1843-1898)
- Young, James S. (1848-1914)
- Berkeley Springs (W. Va.) -- Medicine
- Brownsville (Pa.) -- Education
- Brownsville (Pa.) -- Social life and customs
- Fayette County (Pa.) -- Social Life and Customs
- United States -- Foreign Relations -- 1913-1921
- United States -- Congress -- Senate
- Courts -- Pennsylvania
- Education -- Pennsylvania -- Fayette County
- Judges -- Pennsylvania
- Medicine -- Pennsylvania