Jessie Juliet Knox Collection

Processed by Bie-Hwa Ma and Paul Atwood.

Jessie Juliet Knox Papers

Collection number: 1978-122

History San Jose Research Library

San Jose, California

Processed by:: Bie-Hwa Ma and Paul Atwood
Date Completed:: Dec. 2001
Encoded by:: Paula Jabloner and Leilani Marshall

Descriptive Summary

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.

Administrative Information

Access

The collection is open for research.

Publication Rights

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.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of Item], Jessie Juliet Knox Papers, [Box no.,] History San Jose Research Library.

Acquisition Information

The Jessie Juliet Know Papers (1978-122) was donated to The San Jose Historical Museum in 1978 by David Marks.

Biography

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.

Scope and Content of Papers

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.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection.

Subjects

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)

Bibliography

In the House of the Tiger (Cincinnati: Jennings and Graham, c. 1911)

Little Almond Blossoms: A book of Chinese stories for children (Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, c.1904)

box 1

Clippings and Correspondence, 1893-1932

box 1

Earthquake, 1906

Biographical information, 1893-1932

Social activities, 1905-1921

Fund raising, 1907

Board of Education (CA, MN, and NYC), 1905-1906

Publicity

Little Almond Blossoms, 1904-1906

Bunnyville Folk , 1911-1912

In the House of the Tiger, 1911-1912

Miscellaneous Correspondence, dates vary

box 1

Monographs, 1904, 1911

box 2

Scrapbooks, 1899-1908

"Daybook" of Correspondence, 1899-1908

Clippings, 1902-1909, unknown

Photographs, 1906-1910

Chinatown San Jose after Earthquake, 1906