Updated Mach 24, 2013.
July 23, 2010. This is the link to THE JOE KNAPP CLUB. The MACKAY ESTATE is here. Additional Photos are here.
January 13, 2012. J. P. Knapp Estate
March 24, 2013. Knapp Photographs.
January 12, 2012. Joseph Knapp Philanthropy
April 26, 2011. Joseph Knapp Cemetery, Moyock, NC.
February 3, 2011. Knapp High School 50th Anniversary
July 30, 2010. Knapps Heirs Quietly Continue Giving.
February 17, 2012. White House China
August 11, 2010. MINWR Honors J. P. Knapp
August 11, 2010. Currituck has lowest tax rate
August 12, 2010. Loan from Mr Knapp
May 3, 2012. Confederate Monument.
August 14, 2010. Biography of J. P. Knapp written by Ken Spooner, Author of the book "The Knapp's Lived here".
JOSEPH PALMER KNAPP was born in Williamsburg Brooklyn NY May 14, 1864
Father: Joseph Fairchild Knapp 1832-1891. Mother: Phoebe Palmer Knapp 1839- 1908
Father was a partner of the lithograph firm Sarony Major & Knapp, Later Major & Knapp, Knapp Co. and a founding member & second president of Metropolitan Life Insurance
Mother wrote over 500 hymns including Blessed Assurance & Open The Gates Of The Temple
J P attended Wilson St School , Brooklyn Poly Tech & 1 year in 1881 at Columbia University.
Worked at father's firms of Major & Knapp & The Knapp Company and eventually purchased it from father in 1890 naming it the Joseph P Knapp Co in 1891
Married Sylvia Theresa Kepner in 1886 Two Children Were Born Of This Marriage : Claire Antoinette Knapp 1889 & Joseph Fairchild Knapp 1892.
Reputation grows as one of Americas top wing shots, fly fisherman, billiard player and golfer all through the late 1800's and well into the first decade of the new century.
1891 Became Partners with James B. Duke of NC in the NY Recorder Newspaper which Introduced COLOR to newspapers.
1892 Joins Metropolitan Life Insurance Board of Directors. Organized & Headed The First Printing Conglomerate AMERICAN LITHOGRAPHIC COMPANY (ALCO) 1892 - 1929. While heading ALCO helped develop many technological advances in printing and the use of Color printing including the Roto Gravure process. Took over publishing of Truth Magazine.
1894 Knapps become summer residents at Bellport LI NY. J P becomes one of the founders of the original Bellport Golf Course & Yacht Club.
1900 Became Partners With Thomas Lamont of J P Morgan Cp & renowned lawyer Samuel Unterneyer and starts publishing Associated Sunday Magazine THE FIRST SUNDAY NEWS MAGAZINE supplement offered to newspapers through the US.
1903 After a separation Sylvia T. Knapp intiiates divorce proceedings in Sioux Falls SD.
1905 Marries Elizabeth McIlwaine In Sioux Falls SD.
1906 Purchases the Crowell Co that includes two magazines Farm & Fireside & Woman's Home Companion & a printing plant in Springfield Oh.
1907 Becomes partners with Myron C Taylor in a joint venture to supply Pre Printed Postage Envelopes to US Govt.
1911 Adds AMERICAN MAGAZINE to The Crowell Company
1912 Purchases and personally funds at times Mentor Magazine, a publication designed to educate. Ceases publication in 1929 with onset of depression.
1914 Starts publishing Everyweek Magazine, ceases publication due to paper shortages during WW1. Enables the mutualization of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company by selling them his stock.
1917 Contributes To The WW1 War Effort through publication of many posters including the Iconic Uncle Sam Wants You. Donates Land, Hangers, Radio Equipment & Seaplanes to US Navy at His Mastic LI Estate. Both his son and step son Archie McIlwaine become Naval Aviators during the war.
1918 Purchases Collier's Weekly Magazine
1919 Purchases Mackay Island in Currituck NC. from old family friend Thomas Dixon and starts to build The Knapp Lodge which becomes his winter home until 1946.
1921 Starts To Get Involved With Helping The Currituck School System which Became A Life Long Project and Beyond. Gives a large part of his fortune to this cause. 1922 Elizabeth McIllwaine Knapp dies at the Knapp Summer Home in Southampton LI.
1923 Marries Margaret Rutledge at the Knapp Lodge in Currituck NC.
1924 Purchases control of The Sea Sled Boat Co of Connecticut which builds over 6,000 unique high quality mahogony boats under Knapp ownership until 1934 when the depression halts production.
1929 Sells American Lithographic Co, but retains ALCO GRAVURE. Starts The Knapp Foundations in both NY and NC that fund many philanthropic activities in both education and conservation. Also forms the conservation organization More Game Birds In America which eventually morphs into Ducks Unlimited in 1937.
1933 Presents The KNAPP Plan to US Govt to help alleviate the hardships of the depression. Does much on local levels in both NC and NY to help people cope.
1936 Starts THIS WEEK Magazine another Sunday News Magazine.
1937 Becomes Chairman Of THe Board of Crowell - Collier.
1946 Retires from business at age 82. Becomes interested in helping the N C Institute Of Govt at UNC.
1951 At age 86 Joseph Palmer Knapp dies in his sleep on Jan 31,1951 at his Riverhouse Apt in NYC. 400 attend his memorial service at St Thomas Cathedral. His remains are buried in Moyock, NC near his island home. His widow Margaret continues his work with the Knapp Foundation including overseeing the construction of the Knapp Building at UNC Chapel Hill that houses the Institute Of Govt.
1960 Margaret R Knapp dies and is buried along side Joseph P Knapp. The Knapp Foundation continues on till this day doing good work.