He was educated at Columbia College, matriculating with the class of 1884, but left after a year to become a member of the board in his father's company.
[2][3] In 1892, Knapp founded the American Lithographic Co.,[4] which became a leading printer of Sunday magazines for newspapers.
(The company later became Publication Corporation, which eventually owned a number of Knapp publishing properties.
In 1906, Knapp and partner George Hazen purchased the Crowell Publishing Company of Springfield, Ohio, incorporating it in New Jersey.
[12] (After Knapp's death, at its peak in 1963, This Week was distributed with the Sunday editions of 42 newspapers for a total circulation of 14.6 million.)