Wickliffe Draper

Wickliffe Draper was an American businessman, philanthropist, and eugenicist, known for his involvement in various foundations and organizations.

Draper was a firm believer in eugenics, which is the study of or belief in the possibility of improving the qualities of the human species or a human population by such means as discouraging reproduction by persons having genetic defects or presumed to have inheritable undesirable traits and encouraging reproduction by persons presumed to have inherited desirable traits.

Draper supported several organizations related to eugenics, including the Pioneer Fund and the American Eugenics Society. He also established his own foundations, such as the Race Betterment Foundation and the Population Crisis Committee, to promote his eugenic beliefs.

The Pioneer Fund is a controversial foundation that was established in 1937 by Wickliffe Draper. It provides funding for research in areas such as genetics, eugenics, population control, and race differences. The fund has been criticized for its support of racially biased research and its association with eugenic ideology.

The Race Betterment Foundation was established by Wickliffe Draper in 1962. It aimed to support research and activities that would lead to the improvement of the human race through eugenic measures. The foundation promoted the idea of selective breeding and population control as ways to achieve this goal.