David W. Knight, Sr.

David was first brought to St. John at the age of 9 months old by his parents who built a home in Cruz Bay in the late 1940s. He is a freelance cultural resource consultant, historian and author. His professional goal has always been to bring the rich historical legacy of the Virgin Islands into sharper focus through broad-based public access, education, and awareness. Among Mr. Knight’s published works are a number of volumes that address both the Afro-Caribbean Diaspora and the early United States- and Danish-colonial experience in the Virgin Islands. He has carried out numerous Cultural Resource Surveys including a major historical background report on Botany Bay (2001). He was a consulting historian to the Tutu archaeological investigations (1997), and served as project historian for both the Cinnamon Bay (1999-2000) and Water Island (2000-2003) archeological projects carried out by the National Park Service. Mr. Knight is also the author of a detailed historical background study of the Annaberg Historic District (2001), which was jointly funded by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and the NPS. He consulted in support of the National Landmark Nomination for the Annaberg sugar factory, and assisted the VINP in the development of interpretive brochures and signage for the site. In 2012 Mr. Knight was the recipient of a United States Department of the Interior Historic Preservation Fund sub-grant to research and prepare a historical background report for the Town of Cruz Bay. In 2013 he was appointed by Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr., to serve on the VI Historic Preservation Commission representing the St. Thomas/St. John District. Along with his research and writing, David remains active in preservation advocacy and educational outreach throughout the Territory.

Mr. Knight has served the SJHS Board since 1999 and has held the positions of President (4 years), Historian, Archivist, Media Chairman, and Consultant.