Lester J. Cappon and the Publishing of Modern Documentary Editions

Documentary editing is a well-developed field connected to the historical and archival professions. It was not always so well established, as a study of Lester J. Cappon’s career suggests. Between his work at the Institute of Early American History and Culture starting in the 1950s and his final years as a fellow at the Newberry Library, Cappon played an important role in nurturing documentary editing as a profession.