Clark Wissler

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Clark Wissler (September 18, 1870 – August 25, 1947) was an American anthropologist. He was born near Hagerstown, Indiana and graduated from Indiana University in 1897. He received his doctorate in psychology from Columbia University in 1901. Subsequently, Wissler became interested in the new field of anthropology and associated himself with Franz Boas. Wissler obtained a position at the American Museum of Natural History, where he eventually succeeded Boas as Curator of Ethnography.

Wissler was a specialist in North American ethnography, focusing on the Indians of the Plains. He contributed to the culture area and age-area ideology of the diffusionist viewpoint that is no longer popular in anthropology. Nevertheless, his educational programs, publications, and assemblages of Plains artifacts give him an enviable record. His great influence over the second generation of American anthropologists was important, especially with the emphasis on field work.

Wissler was also associated with Yale University. Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana holds the archives of Clark Wissler. Futhermore, one hall of Indiana University's Teter Living Center is known as "Clark Wissler Hall".