Robert H. Knight memorabiliaMSS.2018.04Arthur J. Morris Law Library Special Collections

Arthur J. Morris Law Library580 Massie RoadUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesville, Virginia 22903archives@law.virginia.eduURL:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2026-05-10 08:01:11 +0000.Description is written in: English, Latin script.Describing Archives: A Content Standard Arthur J. Morris Law Library Special Collections Robert H. Knight memorabilia Knight, Robert H., 1919-2006 MSS.2018.04 Archival Resource Key Previous Archival Resource Key Previous Archival Resource Key /repositories/4/resources/722 .75 Linear Feet 2 archival boxes, plus 3 oversized items 1966-2010 English Scope and Contents

The Robert H. Knight (Law 1947) collection of miscellanous materials contains some correspondence, memorabilia, and photographs.

 Immediate Source of Acquisition

This collection of was donated to the University of Virginia School of Law Library in the summer of 2018 by Robert H. Knight's son, E. Whitney Knight.

 Biographical / Historical

Robert H. Knight was born in New Haven, Connecticut, on 27 February 1919. He graduated from Yale University in 1940, where he joined the ROTC, and was commissioned in the US Army Air Corps. After graduating, he reported for active military duty. Following the war, he attended the University of Virginia School of Law. As a student at UVA he served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Virginia Law Review and was admitted to the Order of the Coif. In 1947 he joined the Law School faculty, and taught for two years.

In 1949, he joined Shearman & Sterling, the New York City law firm, becoming partner in 1956. In 1959, during the Eisenhower Administration, he moved to Washington, DC, where he served as Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs. In 1961, he served as General Counsel for the Department of the Treasury under C. Douglas Dillon. That same year, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy asked Knight to organize the release of Cubans captured in the Bay of Pigs invasion, by working with US companies to donate baby food and drugs to exchange for the prisoners.

Knight was indispensable in the global development of Sherman & Sterling. He was head of the firm from 1982 to 1985. He attracted foreign clients, traveled the world, "his vision of the international dimension of the practice of law made him the architect of the law firm that Shearman & Sterling is today." (Robert H. Knight: A Reflection by Rogan Weerasinghe, see: Robert Knight Remembrance, MSS-2018-04, Box. 1).

He was Deputy Chairman of the New York Federal Reserve Bank from 1976-1977, and Chairman from 1977-1983. He was member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and he served on the board of The Asia Foundation, counsel to United Technologies Corporation; director of the international board of Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corporation; director of I-Corps, National Leadership Bank, Mercator, Inc., Citizen Exchange Council; and a member of the Intelsat Arbitration Panel. He was a member of the board of directors of International Volunteer Services; British Steel Corporation, and the University of Virginia Law School Foundation. He was a member of the American Bar Association; Federal Bar Association, International Bar Association, Inter-American Bar Association, Association of Bar of City of New York, New York County Lawyers Association, International Law Association, Washington Institute Foreign Affairs, Pilgrims Club, Links Club, World Trade Center Club, River Club (New York City), Army and Navy Club, Metropolitan Club (Washington), Round Hill Club (Greenwich, Connecticut), Ocean Club (Ocean Ridge, Florida), and Farmington Club (Virginia). (https://wikispooks.com/wiki/Robert_H._Knight)

In 1964, he became a member of the Board of Trustees of the Law School Foundation. In 1971, he became the President of the Law School Foundation, a position he held for 18 years. Under his mandate, the University of Virginia Law School endowment grew considerably, "the support provided by that endowment and by the example that he set is indispensable to the standing of the University of Virginia as a law school of the first rank." ("Robert H. Knight '47 A Reflection by Robert Scott," see: Robert Knight Remembrance, MSS-2018-04, Box. 1).

MRobert H. Knight died September 28, 2006.

 photographs Memorabilia Knight, Robert H., 1919-2006 Beame, Abraham D., 1906-2001 Bush, George, H. W., 1924-2018 Carter, James Earl, Jr. Dole, Robert Joseph University of Virginia. School of Law Letters to RHK from Abraham D. Beame, Mayor of New City (May 12, 1975); President Jimmy Carter (October 6, 1977); George Bush, First International Bank, Houston, TX (February 13, 1978); Senator Bob Dole ( January 15, 1985). Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765031Federal Reserve System Recognition Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765041982-121UVA Law School Foundation Board of Trustees Meeting of October 10, 1994. Package given to board membersArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765061994-11-04-1994-11-051"The Campaign for Virginia." [UVA] Executive Meeting and National Leadership Gifts Council Joint Meetings. Package given to membersArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765081994-11-04-1994-11-051Law School Alumni Association Annual MeetingArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765092003-05-031Robert H. Knight Remembrance: "So far, so good: remembering Robert Huntington Knight, February 27, 1919 – September 28, 2006.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765101Condolence cards and letters upon Knight's deadArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/7651120061James H. Giffen Court Transcript, Support Letters and Press. " Letter to "Rosemary" from Mr. GiffenArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/7651220101Resolutions and Recognitions.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765141AECA LuncheonsArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/7651719952Robert H. Knight, Senior Partner of Sherman & Sterling with Mr. Bernard L. Magdelain, Vice President and Manager Chemical Bank at the luncheon in honor of Richard N. Gardner, US Ambassador to Spain and Mrs. Libby Pataki, New York, May 30, 1995.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765192Robert H. Knight with Mrs. David A. Morse at luncheon in honor of Alan J. Donelly, MEP Chairman, European Parliament Delegation for Relations with the US, January 30, 1995. Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765182[Federal Reserve Bank of New York] ? Board, undated. Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765202[Federal Reserve Bank of New York] ? Board, undated [ca. 1977-1983]Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765262Federal Reserve Bank of New York 75th Anniversary Dinner, 1989. Robert H. Knight with two unidentified persons.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765272Group of Young Men (copy) and photo of drawing with Knight with inscription: "UTC's Knight for President, undated.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765282Robert H. Knight at White House Meeting with President Jimmy Carter, April 10, 1977Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765292Robert H. Knight with President Bill Clinton, November 11, 1995.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765302Robert H. Knight Photographic Portraits, undated.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765312Robert H. Knight Portrait with photos of family behind the portrait, undated.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765322Robert H. Knight with a group of young friends, undated.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765342Robert and Mimi, May 1995Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765362Law Class of 1947 in front of the Rotunda, [1997] Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765382Law School Alumni Association Board of Directors, October 8, 1966Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765402New York Society for International Affairs, Inc. Luncheon in Honor of José María Figueres, President of Costa Rica, September 28, 1994.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765422TransCanada Pipelines Limited 1994 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, 1994Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765432Two passports; Three pairs of gold cuff-links; Tuxedo buttons; Cousteau-Pechiney Turbosail – Turboivoile Commemorative Medallion produce by Howmet Turbine Corporation, May 13 – June 17, 1985; Medallion with two dogs, inscription reads: R. H. Knight, FN – Herstal, 22-10-75; One leather wallet One gold money clip Certification of Knight's flight in the Sikorsky76 flight simulator. A drawing of a logo. Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765462Two envelops with personal photographs, undated.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765502UVA School of Law Lile Law Society Coasters (3 coasters)Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765522Oversized MaterialsArchival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765542New York Stock Exchange, Inc. Acknowledgement of Robert H. Knight as a member of the International Markets Advisory Committee, October 1981 to October 1995.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765552Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation Resolution recognizing Robert H. Knight, 1989.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765572Oversized photo of board room, undated.Archival Resource Key/repositories/4/archival_objects/765592