Samuel H. Knight papers, 1869-1975

Samuel Howell Knight was born in Laramie, Wyoming on July 31, 1892, to Wilbur C. Knight and Emma Howell Knight. From 1907 to 1913, S.H. Knight attended the University of Wyoming as a prep student and undergraduate. Afterwards, he attended Columbia University in New York from 1914 to 1916 for his graduate studies. Once finished with his studies at Columbia University, Knight returned to Laramie to work as an assistant professor of geology and to be the curator of the Geological Museum. A year later, in 1917, S.H. Knight became a full professor and a department head. Also in 1917, S.H. Knight served in World War I as first lieutenant in army intelligence where his duty was to study the battle terrain of Europe. In 1925, S.H. Knight and five other students worked together to build and establish the Wyoming Science Camp in the Medicine Bow Mountains, 35 miles from Laramie. The camp ran from 1925 to 1976. In his time at the University of Wyoming, S.H. Knight was involved in many facets of university life, such as serving as part of the Associated Students of Wyoming and the Athletics Committee in the 1920’s-1940’s, serving as president of the Alumni Association, and sitting on the semi-centennial committee and the committee for the 75th anniversary of the University. As a researcher, his interests ranged from the rounding of sand grains by wind transportation to the physical evolution of the mountains and depositional basins of southeastern Wyoming. S.H. Knight retired from the University of Wyoming in 1963 but remained Professor Emeritus until 1966. He died on February 1, 1975.