Theodore Knauth
Theodore Whitman Knauth | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date New York City, U.S. |
| Died | 1962 |
| Occupation(s) | Investment banker, journalist, government official |
| Years active | 1907–post-1940s |
| Known for | War correspondent for NBC Radio during World War II; chief of religious affairs in American Zone of Occupation |
Theodore Whitman Knauth (1885–1962) was a multifaceted professional known for his roles as an investment banker, journalist, and government official. His experience encompassed serving as a war correspondent in Europe for NBC Radio during the initial phase of World War II and holding a governmental position within the American Zone of Occupation.
Early life and education
Born on January 13, 1885, in New York City, Knauth completed his secondary education at Morristown-Beard School in 1903. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Harvard University in 1907, where he was affiliated with the fraternity Delta Upsilon. Later, he contributed to Morristown School’s governance as a member of its Board of Trustees, working alongside distinguished alumni such as George W. Merck and Roger Burlingame, and assumed the role of corporate secretary in 1922.
Knauth launched his professional journey with the investment firm Knauth, Nachod, and Kuhne immediately after graduation in 1907. This company, established by his grandfather Franz Theodor Knauth in 1838, concentrated on German and global securities. He attained partnership status in 1921 and maintained his involvement there for thirteen years.
War and post-war activities
Between 1938 and 1941, Knauth reported from Berlin as a war correspondent for NBC News, being among the network’s earliest journalists to cover the war directly on German soil. Notably, two of his Berlin broadcasts from June 1940 are archived by the Paley Center for Media.
After concluding his work with NBC, he joined the American Red Cross, dedicating efforts to prisoner-of-war aid through the distribution of care parcels. During the Allied administration of Germany, Knauth took on the position of chief of religious affairs within the American Zone.
Additionally, he served on the boards of the Carl Schurz Memorial Foundation, which fosters German-American relations, and the Berlin branch of the American Chamber of Commerce.
Family
On February 22, 1912, Knauth married Gabriele Roediger (1884–1972), whose father was factory director Conrad Wilhelm Roediger. They were parents to five children: Percival (1914–1995), Otto, Barbara, Christine, and Sybilla. Following a similar path as his father, Percival Knauth acted as a war correspondent reporting from Berlin during World War II for The Chicago Tribune, The New York Times, Time Magazine, and LIFE Magazine.