IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0097 KNIGHT
Held at: British Library of Political and Economic Science
Title: Knight, Sir Arthur William (1917-2003), businessman
Date(s): 1930s-2002
Level of description: collection
Extent: 33 boxes
Name of creator(s): Knight | Sir | Arthur William | b 1917 | Knight | bank director
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
Sir Arthur Knight began his working life as a clerk at Sainsbury's, taking evening classes at the London School of Economics and graduating with a first class degree in commerce. He spent a year in the Department of Business Administration before joining Courtaulds as a junior economist in 1938. During World War Two, Knight served in the Army, returning to Courtaulds after his service and becoming finance director in 1961. He was a key player in the opposition to ICI's takeover of Courtaulds during the 1960s. Knight became deputy chairman in 1970 and Chairman in 1974. After leaving Courtaulds, Knight became Chairman of the National Enterprise Board but resigned in 1980 after only one year. During his career Knight took a keen interest in management education and helped to set up the Manchester Business School, serving on its council for several years.
After retirement Knight served on several Government committees and the executive committee of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research. He was a member of the LSE Court of Governors from 1971-1994 and became an honorary fellow in 1984 and pursued his interests in business history, management education and industrial policy.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Papers of Sir Arthur Knight, 1930s-2002, relating to his career in business and academia. The papers include biographical notes and diaries, research papers on business management and education, notes for talks and speeches and correspondence.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
Unsorted.
Conditions governing access:
Open
Conditions governing reproduction:
Most items can be photocopied, subject to handling and copyright restrictions. No material may be published without the prior permission of both the copyright holder and the Library. All applications for publication must be made to the Archivist in the first instance, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user.
Finding aids:
List of files available from Archives staff.
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Accruals:
Archival history:
Immediate source of acquisition:
Deposited by the family in 2008.
ALLIED MATERIALS
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Archivist's note: Sources: Copied from LSE Archives CALM database by Anna Towlson.
Date(s) of descriptions: Apr 2008