As I Remember: Charles Elgin Knott

George P. Couper's interview with Charles Elgin Knott, former faculty member of the Cal Poly engineering department. [00:00:07] Cooper opens with restarting the interview [00:00:18] Knott describes conditions of the facilities at Cal Poly when he arrived here in 1921 [00:02:12] Knott discusses the level of instruction and scope of the institution at that time [00:02:53] Knott discusses teaching electrical work, surveying, and drafting when he first arrived here [00:03:14] Knott discusses the military school-like attributes of the institution, like military drills and wearing uniforms [00:03:56] Knott describes the local Board of Trustees [00:04:27] Knott describes the president at the time [00:04:35] Knott recalls the pattern of enrollment [00:05:37] Knott describes changes that Crendall brought about upon becoming president [00:06:41] Knott discusses how the school went about advertising, such as participation at the state fair [00:07:24] Knott recalls the county fair taking place on campus [00:08:02] Knott recalls the addition of new buildings [00:08:47] Knott recalls the effects of the Depression and additional course offerings on enrollment [00:09:55] Knott recalls McPhee being sent to take control of the school [00:11:55] Knott describes the expansion of the engineering department in the late 1930s [00:13:10] Knott discusses the requirements that potential instructors needed to meet [00:13:35] Knott recalls the addition of the air conditioning and refrigeration department [00:14:13] Knott discusses increases and decreases in enrollment as a result of the war [00:15:51] Knott describes the presence of navy and civilian students on campus [00:16:20] Knott discusses the expansion of the engineering department and reasons for increases in enrollment [00:18:25] Knott recalls companies' perceptions of Cal Poly students [00:20:21] Knott discusses the hiring of Cal Poly students [00:20:46] Knott discusses the reasons for increase in enrollment at Cal Poly [00:21:00] Knott discusses the practical training program at Cal Poly and its effect on enrollment [00:22:35] Knott recalls the addition of new departments in the 1950s [00:23:17] Knott describes the building program and the addition of buildings as enrollment increased [00:23:58] Knott describes the "Call to War Production" training program [00:25:34] Knott recalls the beginnings of the architectural engineering program in the late 1940s [00:26:39] Knott discusses acquiring good instructors for the engineering program [00:27:33] Knott discusses the change to a four-year program after the war [00:28:15] Knott recalls becoming more selective in the admissions process [00:28:49] Knott recalls McPhee turning the engineering department over to him and being engineering dean [00:29:35] Knott what he did upon retiring and later visiting Europe [00:31:03] Knott describes his trip in Europe [00:31:41] As I Remember Closing