Joseph R. Knowland
Portrait byHarris & Ewingc. 1905–1915
Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromCalifornia
In office November 8, 1904 – March 3, 1915
Preceded by	Victor H. Metcalf
Succeeded by	John A. Elston
Constituency	3rd district(1904–1913) 6th district(1913–1915)
Member of theCalifornia Senate from the14th district
In office January 5, 1903 – September 28, 1904
Preceded by	John F. Davis
Succeeded by	M. W. Simpson
Member of theCalifornia State Assembly from the47th district
In office January 2, 1899 – January 5, 1903
Preceded by	James A. Waymire
Succeeded by	Joseph Clement Bates Jr.
Personal details
Born	(1873-08-05)August 5, 1873 Alameda, California, US
Died	February 1, 1966(1966-02-01) (aged 92) Piedmont, California, US
Resting place	Chapel of Memories,Mountain View Cemetery inOakland, California
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Elinor J. Fife (m.1894–1908) Emelyn S. West (m.1909–1950) Clarice E. Cook (m.1952–1966)
Children	3, includingWilliam F. Knowland
Alma mater	University of the Pacific
Occupation	Newspaper publisher

Joseph Russell Knowland (August 5, 1873 – February 1, 1966) was an American politician and newspaper publisher. He served six terms as a member of theUnited States House of Representatives from California from 1904 to 1915. He was the owner, editor and publisher of theOakland Tribune. He was the father ofUnited States SenatorWilliam F. Knowland.

Knowland was born inAlameda, California on August 5, 1873, the son ofJoseph Knowland (1833–1912) and Hannah Bailey Russell (1832–1921).^[1] His siblings included two sisters, Sadie (1864–1905) and Lucille (1870–1926), and a brother, Hollis, who died in infancy. Knowland attended Alameda Park Street Primary School and Hopkins Academy, and graduated from theUniversity of the Pacific in 1895.^[2][3]

After college, Knowland joined his father's wholesale lumber and shipping business.^[2] His business career proved successful, and ventures in which Knowland participated included: Gardiner Mill Company (president); Kennedy Mine & Milling Company (director); Alameda National Bank (director); and Union Savings Bank of Oakland (director).^[4]

He was also active in several fraternal and civic organizations, to include theFreemasons,Shriners,Elks,Modern Woodmen of America,Native Sons of the Golden West, and California Landmarks League.^[5] Knowland's memberships also included the California Centennials Council,California Historical Society,California Chamber of Commerce,California State Automobile Association, Oakland Chamber of Commerce, OaklandCommunity Chest,Mills College Board of Trustees, Oakland National Horse Show, and Athens Athletic Club.^[3]

Knowland joined the Alameda Good Government Club in early 1895. In 1896, he was appointed to the Alameda Library Board of Trustees. In 1898, he was a successfulRepublican candidate for theCalifornia State Assembly.^[2] He was reelected in 1900, and served from 1899 to 1903.^[2] During his Assembly career, Knowland chaired the Assembly committee that investigated the corruption in the San Francisco police.^[2] His efforts resulted in passage of a law prohibiting the human trafficking of Chinese women.^[2]

In 1902, Knowland was elected to theCalifornia State Senate.^[2] He served until resigning in order to take the seat in theUnited States House of Representatives to which he had been elected in 1904.^[2] During Knowland's Senate term, he was chairman of the body's committee on banking.^[2]

In 1904, Knowland was elected to Congress in a special election, filling the vacancy caused by the resignation ofVictor H. Metcalf.^[2] He was reelected to five full terms and served from September 24, 1904, to March 3, 1915. His district included theU.S. Army'sBenicia Arsenal and the U.S. Naval Shipyard atMare Island, so Knowland had a keen interest in the military.^[6] As a congressman, he worked to obtain approval for construction of Navycapital ships in California and for a two-ocean fleet.^[6] In addition, Knowland advocated for American ships to use thePanama Canal toll free.^[6]

Knowland sought to succeedGeorge C. Perkins in the U.S. Senate. In 1914, he won the Republican primary overSamuel M. Shortridge. However, he was unsuccessful in the general election, a three-way race withFrancis J. Heney of theProgressive Party and the winner,DemocratJames D. Phelan.

Knowland became owner, editor, president and publisher ofThe Oakland Tribune on 3 November 1915. He wrote, "It is perfectly understood that what it [theTribune] does, rather than what it promises, will determine the true measure of its worth; and with this understanding, theTribune, under its new control, girds to its work." Many years and court battles with Hermina Peralta Dargie (widow of ownerWilliam E. Dargie) passed before Knowland had full control of theTribune. Knowland built theTribune Tower, a city landmark at 13th and Franklin Streets. He had a great interest in restoring theCalifornia Missions. This had begun in 1903, with Mission San Antonio De Padua. He was a historical advisor during the 1927 California State Park Survey.

In 1932, Knowland went toWashington and persuaded PresidentHerbert Hoover and theReconstruction Finance Corporation to advance $62 million for the completion of theSan Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge. He created, withBruno Albert Forsterer and Joseph Blum, the Franklin Investment Company in 1936 (later the Franklin Credit Union). In 1937, he attained the status of 33rd DegreeMason, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite. Knowland was a member of the Finance Committee of theGolden Gate International Exposition of 1939–1940. In 1941, he authoredCalifornia: A Landmark History. He was the political mentor ofEarl Warren; from assistant Oakland City Attorney toChief Justice of the United States.

Knowland served on the California State Park Commission from 1934 to 1960 and was chairman from 1938 to 1960. He was appointed by GovernorEarl Warren as chairman of the California Centennial Commission from 1948 to 1950. Knowland was honored on September 9, 1951, by the City of Oakland and the State of California, withJoseph Knowland State Arboretum and Park in Oakland. He served as chairman of the Oakland Centennial in 1952, and the Alameda County Centennial in 1953.

Knowland was proud of the political career of his son,William F. Knowland, United States Senator from 1945 to 1959, who served asSenate Majority Leader from 1953 to 1955 andSenate Minority Leader from 1955 to 1959. The only mistake that he felt his son made was his 1958 run and defeat forGovernor of California.

He attended his firstRepublican National Convention in 1904. He attended the GOP conventions as a delegate or newspaperman until 1964. Oakland became a one-newspaper city on September 1, 1950, whenWilliam Randolph Hearst closed hisOakland Post-Enquirer. TheOakland Tribune's radio stationKLX began operation in 1921 and would be on the air until its sale in 1959.

Knowland met Elinor (Ellie) J. Fife (1873–1908) ofTacoma, Washington while they were students at University of the Pacific. Ellie was the daughter of Tacoma businessman W. H. Fife. Knowland and Ellie were married on April 2, 1894, in Tacoma. Three children were born to this union: Elinor Knowland Lion (1895–1978); Joseph Russell "Russ" Knowland, Jr. (1901–1961); and US SenatorWilliam F. Knowland (1908–1974). Shortly after the birth of William F. Knowland, Ellie Knowland died.

Knowland, a young widower with children, met Emelyn S. West (1884–1950) of West Lynne,Virginia. On September 28, 1909, they were wed inChicago, Illinois. Emelyn Knowland was a loving stepmother and active in her husband's social and political life. Emelyn died July 14, 1950, during the California Centennial. Knowland's third wife, Clarice E. "Cookie" Cook (1902–1979), was an officer of the Native Daughters of the Golden West. Knowland and Cook were married on April 6, 1952, inStockton, California. A shared interest in California history made a happy marriage for Knowland's twilight years. Knowland remained active in his old age and came each day to theTribune.

Joseph Russell Knowland died February 1, 1966, in his residence at 25 Seaview Avenue inPiedmont. His wife Clarice and granddaughters Emelyn K. Jewett and Josephine L. Church were at his bedside.

The next day, theTribune's headline was "Joseph R. Knowland Dead". Joseph R. Knowland was praised by Republicans and Democrats. California Governor Edmund G.Pat Brown said, "Knowland strongly believed in California...the State he loved so well." The public funeral of J.R. Knowland was held at the First Methodist Church and the private family service at Mountain View Cemetery Chapel in Oakland. He was cremated atMountain View Cemetery Crematory and is inurned with his third wife, Clarice, inSerenity Section, Tier N-4, Number 3 at the Chapel of Memories Columbarium in Oakland, California.^[7]

• California Blue Book. Sacramento: State Printing Office, 1909.
• Gothberg, John A. "The Local Influence of Joseph R. Knowland's Oakland Tribune".Minneapolis Journalism Quarterly - 45, (Autumn 1968):487-95.
• Knowland, Joseph R.California: A Landmark History. Oakland: Tribune Press, 1941.
• Wyatt, Daniel E.Joseph R. Knowland: The Political Years 1899-1915. San Francisco, D.Wyatt, 1982.
• Joseph R. Knowland Papers,Bancroft Library,University of California, Berkeley.

Wikimedia Commons has media related toJoseph R. Knowland.

• United States Congress."Joseph R. Knowland (id: K000291)".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Knowland Family at Political Graveyard
• “Selections from Oakland Tribune Archives,” by Annalee Allen, Arcadia Publishing 2006
• Finding Aid to the Joseph R. Knowland Papers, 1857-1966, bulk 1905-1960,The Bancroft Library
• Join California Joseph R. Knowland

• 1873 births
• 1966 deaths
• Politicians from Alameda, California
• Republican Party California state senators
• Republican Party members of the California State Assembly
• Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from California
• Knowland family
• 20th-century American newspaper publishers (people)
• 20th-century members of the California State Legislature
• 20th-century members of the United States House of Representatives
• Candidates in the 1914 United States Senate elections

• Articles with short description
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