Knight, Frances G.

Director of the Passport Office within the U.S. State Dept. (1955-1977).

Frances G. Knight was born in Newport, Rhode Island on July 22, 1905. She grew up living in various locations around the world, and was educated in New York City, Prague, and Monaco. She received an AB degree in journalism from New York University in 1926, and took graduate courses from Columbia University. Frances Knight worked on the editorial staff of a publication from 1925-1934. On September 15, 1935 she married Wayne W. Parrish, a publisher. From 1934-1936 she served as a division chief for the National Recovery Administration, beginning a long career with the Federal Government. In 1936 Knight was hired as deputy director of the information program at the Works Progress Administration, where she was employed until 1939. In 1940 she served as a public relations consultant to the White House Conference on Children. She then went on to serve the government in the following capacities: special assistant to chief of the National Defense Advisory Commission, 1941-1942; public relations director for the U.S. Office of Civilian Defense, 1942-1945; director of public information for the American Retail Federation, 1945-1947; and special consultant to the chairman of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee in 1948. In 1949 she was hired by the State Department as a radio information specialist, for the Voice of America division of the Office of International Information. In 1952 she became the assistant deputy administrator in the Bureau of Security and Consular Affairs at the State Department. On May 1, 1955, she became director of the U.S. Passport Office, and served at this post until 1977, when she retired at the age of 72. She died on September 11, 1999.

Biographical Note