Arthur Capper

Arthur Capper was born on July 14, 1865 in Garnett Kansas. He was a successful writer and publisher, and got his start in the business when he was a young boy. He moved to Topeka after high school and worked as an editor and political correspondent for the Topeka Daily Capital. Arthur Capper married Florence Crawford, daughter of former Governor Samuel Crawford, in 1892. In 1893 and 1895 Capper purchased the newspapers Topeka Mail and Topeka Breeze. Capper reestablished the Topeka Daily Capital in 1901. By 1911, Capper's Capital (currently The Topeka Capital-Journal) was "one of the best and brightest dailies in the West." Arthur Capper added WIBW, one of the first radio stations in the state, to his media empire in 1927. Capper publishing was the largest publishing house west of the Mississippi River.

In 1909, Arthur Capper held his first public office as a member and chairman of the Board of Regents of the Kansas State Agricultural College. In 1914, he was elected the 20th governor of Kansas. Arthur Capper was the first native born governor, serving from 1914 to 1919. Capper was elected U.S. Senator and served from 1919-1949, holding the Kansas record for the longest serving senator.


Photo credits to the Kansas Sampler Foundation

Arthur Capper with Dwight D. Eisenhower

Photo credits to the Kansas Sampler Foundation

Senator Arthur Capper and his wife were wealthy, but lived modestly. They were childless and had philanthropic interests, including a charity they established to help children with disabilities and agricultural clubs that loaned money to students, to form businesses of their own. These efforts by Senator Capper became the Capper Foundation and the beginning of the 4-H clubs in America.

Arthur Capper passed away on December 19, 1951 at the age of 86, but wasn't done breaking barriers to help those in need. Arthur Capper left assets to purchase the Topeka Campus at 3500 SW 10th Avenue, the Capper Foundation is still located there today.

"Why do you think that Arthur Capper wanted to help the Children so much?"

A clip from the interview with Edie Smith, Vice President Development and Marketing at the Capper Foundation.