Win G. Knoch Papers (Naperville)

Collection

Identifier: RHC-RC-179

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Win G. Knoch Papers contain three series that partially document the public and private activities of Win G. Knoch of Naperville, Illinois. The first series, Biographical, contains extensive information on Knoch and his family’s history, 1893-1983. Also included is information on honors, awards, civic, professional, and charitable activities of Judge Knoch. Series II, Correspondence Files, is the largest and most complex series in the collection. The series spans the years 1936-1983. In some cases there are separate letter files that overlap the original letter file. It appears that these files were created after Judge Knoch’s retirement from active service in 1967 and were never filed with the main alphabetical file. Subject Files (1921-1982) contained in Series III. Materials in this series document several aspects of Judge Knoch’s career: professional associations, civic and charitable activities, political campaigns, and public appearances and speeches.

Dates

created: 1893-1983
Other: Date acquired: 10/01/1987

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on access to the collection.

Conditions Governing Use

Property rights in the collection are held by the Regional History Center; literary rights are dedicated to the public.

Biographical or Historical Information

Win G. Knoch was born at Naperville, Illinois on May 24, 1895. He was educated in local schools and received his law degree from DePaul University in 1917. From 1922 to 1930 Judge Knoch was engaged in private practice with Chauncey Reed (and later Russell Keeney), served as DuPage County’s first regularly appointed Assistant State’s Attorney and also was attorney for the DuPage County Board of Supervisors and the Forest Preserve Commission of DuPage County. Knoch was first elected as a DuPage County Judge in 1930 and was Circuit judge from 1939 until 1953 when he was appointed by President Eisenhower to the U.S. District Court of northern Illinois. In 1958 Judge Knoch was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. He retired in 1967 but remained on senior status for several years thereafter. In politics Judge Knoch was a life-long Republican and was considered by many the father of the modern DuPage County Republican Party. Throughout his career Judge Knoch was deeply involved in community affairs. During the Depression he took the lead in organizing the Naperville National Bank and served as Chairman and President for 23 years and then chairman for 12 years. Judge Knoch was also involved in the acquisition and development of Centennial Park, Edward Hospital, and Caroline Martin-Mitchell Museum. He was an active member of many professional associations and served as President of the DuPage County Bar Association (1927), County and Probate Judges Association, and Illinois Circuit and Superior Court Judges Association (1943). Judge Knoch’s other interests included Catholic charities, Boy Scouts, American Legion, Illinois Benedictine College, Loyola and DePaul Universities. Judge Knoch married Irene Mae Fauth of Aurora and the couple had four daughters. Win G. Knoch died May 23, 1983 in Naperville, Illinois. For more detailed biographical information see Box 1.

Note written by

Extent

5.75 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement Note

The Win G. Knoch Papers contain three series: Biographicl, Correspondence which is arranged alphabetically and is in reverse chronological order, and Subject files which are arranged alphabetically and are in chronological order.

Source of Acquisition

Marjorie Schaller and Warren W. Wood

Method of Acquisition

Marjorie Schaller and Warren W. Wood, co-executors of the Win G. Knoch Estate, donated the Win G. Knoch Papers to the Northern Illinois Regional History Center on October 1, 1987.