Arthur Capper

A Kansas Portrait

Arthur Capper, a two-term governor of Kansas and a five term senator, demonstrated his interest in young people with the establishment of the Capper Foundation for Crippled Children. His commitment to aid children was a life-long one, expressed in numerous ways.

Related to his agricultural and publishing efforts, he initiated programs for rural youngsters that encouraged them to raise corn, tomatoes, poultry, other livestock and produce. His best known efforts were the Capper Pig Clubs for boys and the Capper Poultry Clubs for girls. These clubs eventually merged into the 4-H movement. Capper's influence was recognized with the passage of the Capper-Ketchum Act in 1928 that provided federal financial support through the agricultural extension network.

Beginning in 1908, Capper sponsored an annual summer celebration for Topeka children known as the Capper birthday party. It was held on or around July 4^th in either Garfield or Ripley Park. Crowds of fifteen to twenty thousand attended the picnic. The Capper Birthday party was discontinued after 1951 when the flood of that summer forced its cancellation.

Capper's interest in children with disabilities began in 1920s and eventually led to the establishment of the Capper Foundation for Crippled Children. Today the Capper Foundation is a tangible reminder of Capper's dedication to the children of Kansas.