Biographical / Historical
Scope and Contents
Arrangement
Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Preferred Citation
Processing Information
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & Archives
Title: William Knight Collection
Creator:
Knight, William (1931-2019)
Identifier/Call Number: TBC.WKC
Physical Description:
1.5 linear feet
Physical Description:
5.15 Gigabytes
Date (inclusive): 1950-1984
Abstract: William B. Knight,
also known as Bill Knight, was a news photographer and cameraman. Beginning his career at
the
Los Angeles Mirror, the afternoon counterpart of the
Los Angeles Times, Knight worked for the
Los Angeles Mirror for almost a decade before moving to television
news and becoming a cameraman for KTLA. During his time as a photojournalist, Knight
captured a wide range of events, from wildfires to traffic accidents to the stocking of fish
in local lakes. This small collection spans the 1950s to 1980s and consists largely of
negatives and audiovisual materials.
Language of Material:
English.
Biographical / Historical
William B. Knight, or Bill Knight, was born September 3, 1931 in Los Angeles to Bert and
Viola Knight. After graduating from Susan Miller Dorsey High School, Knight started working
for the
Los Angeles Mirror in his early 20s and had an almost
decade-long career as an outdoor and general assignment photojournalist. In the early 1960s,
Knight made the switch to television news, becoming a cameraman for KTLA News.
Outside of his professional life, Knight was heavily involved with the Press Photographers
Association of Greater Los Angeles (PPAGLA). During his involvement with the PPAGLA, Knight
held various leadership roles. He served as the president of the association three times,
first in 1971, then in 1990, and once again in 1991. Additionally, Knight held the positions
of Vice President and Director and was an active member of the Board of Directors for many
years, contributing significantly to the promotion of photojournalism in the Greater Los
Angeles area. In recognition of his work, Knight received the annual TV Spot News Award from
the PPAGLA on several occasions.
Knight was an avid outdoorsman, spending his leisure time hunting and fishing. When he
retired, Knight established the Bill Knight Endowment at the PPAGLA, which funds the Video
Spot News award. On January 17, 2019, William B. Knight died at 87 years of age.
Scope and Contents
The William B. Knight Collection consists of images of wildlife and events across Southern
California as well as footage of news stories in Los Angeles. Much of Knight's photography
found in this collection created during his tenure at the Los Angeles Mirror focused on
wildlife, including 400 negatives of hunting and fishing alone, because he was the Outdoors
Photographer for the newspaper. There are approximately 1,800 images in this collection.
Series I
Los Angeles Mirror News features Knight's professional news
photography for the Los Angeles Mirror, much of which spans the years 1951 and 1963 and
covers a wide range of topics, such as wildfires, traffic accidents, hunting, and fishing.
Notable figures featured in his photos include Leo Durocher, Liz Renay, and Carlton Young.
This series consists of negatives, clippings, and realia.
Series II
KTLA and Television News features Knight's television news footage
from his time at KTLA News, such as the 1976 Nash Flagship Department Store fire, footage
from the Watts Rebellion, an Iranian riot, and the 1974 SLA (Symbionese Liberation Army)
Shootout. This series consists of 16mm film and a videocassette.
Series III
Personal features some of Knight's personal photography, such as his
family life. This series consists of negatives.
Collection folders are arranged alphabetically by title.
Arrangement
Series I: Los Angeles Mirror News, 1953-1963
Series II: KTLA and Television News, ca. 1965-ca. 1984
Series III: Personal, 1950-1962
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research use.
Conditions Governing Use
Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17,
U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright
owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission
of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this
collection has been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright status
for other materials is unknown.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Chris Knight, 2019
Preferred Citation
For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual,
or see the
Citing Archival
Materials
guide.
Processing Information
Prach Prasertwit, 2023
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Photographs
Audiovisual materials