For the Greater Good: Philanthropy in Waco

Synopsis

In 2008, the Baylor University Institute for Oral History (BUIOH) received a grant from the  Cooper Foundation to study the proliferation and impact of local philanthropy on the Waco Community. The project would be twofold: revisit the founding of the Cooper Foundation and its enigmatic benefactor, Madison Cooper Jr., and interview modern day philanthropists to discuss their philanthropic philosophies, interests and impacts.

Presented in this web portal are a series of interviews for each of these foci. Included on each interviewee's page are biographical details as well as samplings from their interviews in both text and audio form.

 

Project Contributors

Interviews conducted by: Michelle Holland, Lois Myers, Dr. Rebecca Sharpless, Steven Sielaff, & Dr. Stephen Sloan

Research assistants: Allison Hubbs & Steven Sielaff

Web design and content: Steven Sielaff

Select photography: Susan Mullally

Select imagery and research materials courtesy of The Texas Collection

Special thanks to Elizabeth Smith, former executive director of the Cooper Foundation