Florence E.S. Knapp
Encyclopedia
Florence Elizabeth Knapp (b. ca. 1875 Syracuse
, Onondaga County, New York
- October 26, 1949 Marcy
, Oneida County, New York
) was an American politician who was the first woman elected to a state cabinet office in New York.
and brother of John Hancock
.
She married Philip Schuyler Knapp (d. 1913).
In 1920, Syracuse University
awarded her the honorary degree of Bachelor of Science
in Education. She was a delegate to the 1920 Republican National Convention
, and an alternate delegate to the 1924 Republican National Convention
.
She was Secretary of State of New York
from 1925 to 1926, elected in 1924. After leaving office, she was accused of maladministration, and resigned her post as Dean of the College of Home Economics at Syracuse University
. In June 1928, she was convicted of grand larceny
in office. During the taking of New York's 1925 census, Mrs. Knapp had put her stepdaughter's name on the payroll, then received the stepdaughter's checks herself, forged the endorsements, and spent the money on clothes.
She was the last Secretary of State of New York elected to the office. After the reorganisation of the state administration during the governorship of Al Smith
, the office became appointive, and has remained so to date. She remained the only woman elected to a statewide office in New York for fifty years, until the election of Mary Anne Krupsak as Lieutenant Governor of New York
in 1974.
She died at the Marcy State Hospital.
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 467,026. The county seat is Syracuse.Onondaga County is part of the Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area....
- October 26, 1949 Marcy
Marcy, New York
Marcy is a town in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 9,469 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Governor William L. Marcy....
, Oneida County, New York
Oneida County, New York
Oneida County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 234,878. The county seat is Utica. The name is in honor of the Oneida, an Iroquoian tribe that formerly occupied the region....
) was an American politician who was the first woman elected to a state cabinet office in New York.
Life
She was a descendant of Ebenezer Hancock, librarian of Harvard UniversityHarvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and brother of John Hancock
John Hancock
John Hancock was a merchant, statesman, and prominent Patriot of the American Revolution. He served as president of the Second Continental Congress and was the first and third Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts...
.
She married Philip Schuyler Knapp (d. 1913).
In 1920, Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
awarded her the honorary degree of Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Education. She was a delegate to the 1920 Republican National Convention
1920 Republican National Convention
The 1920 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States nominated Ohio Senator Warren G. Harding for President and Massachusetts Governor Calvin Coolidge for Vice President...
, and an alternate delegate to the 1924 Republican National Convention
1924 Republican National Convention
The 1924 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held in Cleveland, Ohio at the Public Auditorium from June 10 to June 12. For this convention the method of allocating delegates changed in order to reduce the overrepresentation of the South...
.
She was Secretary of State of New York
Secretary of State of New York
The Secretary of State of New York is a cabinet officer in the government of the U.S. state of New York.The current Secretary of State of New York is Cesar A...
from 1925 to 1926, elected in 1924. After leaving office, she was accused of maladministration, and resigned her post as Dean of the College of Home Economics at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
. In June 1928, she was convicted of grand larceny
Grand Larceny
Grand Larceny is a 1987 thriller film directed by Jeannot Szwarc and starring Marilu Henner, Ian McShane, Omar Sharif and Louis Jourdan.-Plot summary:...
in office. During the taking of New York's 1925 census, Mrs. Knapp had put her stepdaughter's name on the payroll, then received the stepdaughter's checks herself, forged the endorsements, and spent the money on clothes.
She was the last Secretary of State of New York elected to the office. After the reorganisation of the state administration during the governorship of Al Smith
Al Smith
Alfred Emanuel Smith. , known in private and public life as Al Smith, was an American statesman who was elected the 42nd Governor of New York three times, and was the Democratic U.S. presidential candidate in 1928...
, the office became appointive, and has remained so to date. She remained the only woman elected to a statewide office in New York for fifty years, until the election of Mary Anne Krupsak as Lieutenant Governor of New York
Lieutenant Governor of New York
The Lieutenant Governor of New York is a constitutional office in the executive branch of the government of New York State. It is the second highest ranking official in state government. The lieutenant governor is elected on a ticket with the governor for a four year term...
in 1974.
She died at the Marcy State Hospital.
Sources
- http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,731471,00.html Accusations in TIME Magazine on February 6, 1928
- http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/knapp.html Political Graveyard
- http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,731829,00.html Her conviction in TIME Magazine on June 4, 1928
- http://archives.syr.edu/archives/awards/honorary_3.html Honorary Degrees, at Syracuse University
- http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C01E3D7103BEE32A2575BC0A9659C946195D6CF List of delegates to RNC, in NYT on March 8, 1920
- Obit in NYT on October 27, 1949; page 27