David Knapp letters

David Knapp was born in New York, NY, on Sept. 2, 1926. He joined the Boy Scouts of America in 1938 and became an Eagle Scout in 1944. Soon after, he matriculated to Wesleyan University, from which he graduated in 1949. During his time at Wesleyan, Knapp was a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and lived in the fraternity's house. Following his graduation from Wesleyan, Knapp worked as a Boy Scouts of America district executive from 1951 to 1961. He then was a sales representative for educational companies.

In 1958, Knapp married Mary Adelaide Wheeler, who previously had two daughters. Knapp and Wheeler also had a daughter of their own. Knapp and his new family lived in Connecticut. In 1986, Knapp came out as gay to his wife and they divorced. He said that he still remained "deeply closeted." Soon after his divorce, and then retired and living in Guilford Ct., Knapp was asked by local boy scout leaders to volunteer to recruit and train adult leaders.

Knapp began to make local and national headlines in 1993, after he was dismissed from the Boy Scouts. Since then, Knapp has been a vocal advocate for changes in the BSA's policies that would allow for more inclusive membership, including membership for gays and atheists; organized protests; and given interviews to the press about his life and work in scouting.