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Title: Jessie Juliet Knox Papers,
Date (bulk): 1893 - 1932
Collection number: 1978-122
Creator:
Knox, Jessie Juliet
Extent:
.3 linear feet
Repository:
History San Jose Research Library.
San Jose, California 95112-2599
Abstract: The Jessie Juliet Knox Papers document the activities of Knox from the mid-1890s to 1912. The records are divided into two
series and total .3 linear feet, in one half-size manuscript box and one flat box. Two monographs, authored by Knox, and
8 related photographs are also included with the Papers.
Physical location: For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the History San Jose Research Library.
Language:
English.
The collection is open for research.
History San Jose can only claim physical ownership of the collection. Users are responsible for satisfying any claims of the
copyright holder. Permission to copy or publish any portion of History San Jose's collection must be given by History San
Jose.
[Identification of Item], Jessie Juliet Knox Papers, [Box no.,] History San Jose Research Library.
The Jessie Juliet Know Papers (1978-122) was donated to The San Jose Historical Museum in 1978 by David Marks.
Born Jessie Juliet Daily, Jesse Juliet Knox (1867? - ) was an author mostly of children's tales, poem, and verse. She was
born in Cleveland, Tennessee; youngest daughter of Reverend William Clinton (1818-1897) and Julia Ann (Godby) Daily. Reverend
Daily was a veteran minister and pioneer of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Knox was educated, specializing in music, in
various public and private schools in Tennessee, graduating from high school in 1884.
Knox moved to San Jose, California after graduation, where she married Charles Williams Knox, a San Jose banker and singer,
on June 4, 1890. She was the President of the Pacific Short Story Club of California. Beginning in 1900 she was a writer
and lecturer on Pacific Coast Chinese.
Knox began writing stories and articles in a kindly and sympathetically matter about the Chinese for the time. Her writing
style and positive view of the Chinese attracted the attention of Ho Yow, Chinese Consul General to San Francisco. Through
this friendship, Knox gained the greater part of her knowledge of wealthy Chinese. She also became a patron of the San Jose
Chinese community.
Knox "adopted" a nine year old Chinese girl, Lynne Shew (circa 1899). Under Knox's influence, Lynne became an expressive
writer, an outstanding fundraiser, an able administrator and excellent teacher. Shew went to China in 1925 and founded a hospital,
returning to San Francisco in 1940.
Knox divorced Mr. Charles Knox. She later moved from San Jose to Oakland, where she became a welfare worker. She passed away
in Oakland, California, survived by one daughter, Helen Ferier; a sister, George Callen of Athens, Tennessee; a brother, Wilbur
F. Bailey of Los Angeles; a niece, Bean; and a nephew, James H. Daily of Knoxville.
The Jessie Juliet Knox Papers documents the activities of Knox from the mid 1890's to 1912. The records are divided into three
series and total .3 linear feet, in one half-size manuscript box and one flat box. Two monographs, authored by Knox, and 8
related photographs are also included with the Papers.
The first series, Clippings and Correspondence (9 folders), are the personal collection of clippings, publicity, and personal
correspondence written to and collected by Knox. The newspaper clippings relate to numerous topics including book publicity,
social activities administered or related to Knox, obituaries, and fund raising efforts for the famine in China. The book
publicity clippings refer to Knox's three monograph publications. Personal correspondence includes a few brief handwritten
notes, including direct correspondence from Ho Yow, Chinese Consul General to San Francisco. The dates of this material range
from 1893 to 1932.
The second series, housed in a flat box, consists of two scrapbooks. The "Daybook" presents correspondence, 1899 to 1908,
involving Knox and various publishers. The collection of letters provides insight into Knox's efforts to get published, acceptation
and payment for published works (mainly articles), and responses, accepting and denying materials, from publishers. The daybook
has approximately 93 pages of letters. The other scrapbook includes clippings on the topic of Chinese immigration, as well
as personal social activities and fund-raising performed by Knox. Nine pages of newspaper articles are adhered to the pages
of the scrapbook. The date range varies; the most recent article noted is 1907.
The two monographs, the third series, are:
Little Almond Blossoms: A book of Chinese stories for children (1904), Knox's most noted work, and
In the House of the Tiger (1911). The eight photographs document Knox dressed in formal Chinese regalia, a photograph of Ho Yow, and six images of
Chinatown and San Jose after the 1906 earthquake. The photographs are housed separately at History San Jose.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection.
Knox, Jessie Juliet
Chinese Americans--Children--Fiction
Chinese Americans--California--San Francisco
Children's literature, English
Women Authors, American--California
Related Material at History San Jose
David Marks donated additional materials in 1992 on the Chinese in San Jose (1992-216)