Knobs--fourth classmen--have always had to pop off at mess. Originally they could be asked any question. They would come over to the library to find the answer. Later, in the 1970s, the questions were limited to facts pertaining The Citadel in some way. Since the same questions were asked from year to year, the librarians kept a box of 3 x 5 cards with the answers. This later was put in paper format and in 1976 it was put on the computer. It has expanded to include all sorts of Citadel lore and history. Tentatively, a question could be asked about any of the topics, but most of the information will never be asked by knobs. It will be asked by administrators and others. Alumni appear to read it thoroughly and even people who have no connection with The Citadel keep sending comments. At mess, the answering and asking of questions was at one time called, "stump the stars." Today, Knob Knowledge is restricted to what can be found under "M. Fourth Class Knowledge" in the The Fourth Class Knowledge Manual. The Knob Knowledge file on the Daniel Library Web site was originally created by LTC Herbert T. Nath, and further developed and researched in great detail by Professor Emeritus David C. R. Heisser. In 2007, this content was migrated to a wiki format to allow wider peer production, searching, and linking capabilities of content, and introduced widely in February 2008. In January 2009, the name was changed to Nath Knowledge to honor the late Herbert T. Nath.
