John B. Knaebel papers, 1920-1976

John B. Knaebel was born in Denver, Colorado, on January 1, 1906. He attended Cornell University, Northwestern University, and Stanford University between 1924 and 1929. He received a B.S. in Engineering from Stanford in 1929 and an E.M. in 1930. Beginning in 1929, Knaebel worked for a variety of companies in a wide array of capacities. His work took him from Mexico to the Philippines. These positions included everything from mining engineer to assistant to the vice president. In 1946, Knaebel took the job of engineer in charge of Anaconda British Guiana Mines, Ltd. This began a long employment with various branches of the Anaconda companies in South America, the U.S., and Canada. Some of the positions he held were vice president and general manager of the Anaconda Company (Canada), Ltd., vice president of the Anaconda American Brass, Ltd., Western Exploration Division, General Manager of the new mines department for Anaconda Company, and vice president of the Anaconda Company. He received numerous awards from professional societies and magazines.

In 1931, Knaebel married Joy James. Together they had two children, Jeffrey James and Stephen Park. In May of 1956, Knaebel divorced Joy. Then in 1958, Knaebel married Nelle M. McNulty. He had one step son, Terrence Patrick McNulty. Knaebel died in 1991.