Gleason Archer, Sr. (October 29, 1880 – June 28, 1966)[1] was the founder and first president of Suffolk University and Suffolk Law School. He was also an extensive writer and radio broadcaster for NBC.
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Gleason Leonard Archer was born in 1880 in Great Pond, Maine. Archer was the third son in a family of seven, and at age thirteen he left school to enter the family woodcutting business. Because of his interest in books, his parents allowed Archer to work for a physician near Lewiston, Maine where he could attend high school in Sabattus, Maine. He graduated in 1902 as valedictorian of his high school class.[2] Eventually Archer borrowed funds to attend Boston University School of Law. He worked six days a week as a waiter to pay for his college studies and during the summer he worked at a resort on Cape Cod. While working, he shattered his knee in a fall, and to receive adequate medical care, set out for Boston on crutches. Along the way, George A. Frost, President of the Boston Garter Company picked Archer up, and developed a father-like relationship with Archer and agreed to pay for his medical bills. Frost eventually gave Archer the money to complete his study at Boston University with the stipulation that he pass on the favor to other boys if he had the opportunity.
So upon graduation from law school and passing the bar in 1906, Archer founded Suffolk University Law School (originally known as Archer's Law School) while still maintaining a private practice. Archer's goal was to build an evening law school (and eventually a university) which would provide an education regardless of economic class, race or religion. The school started off in Archer's home at night, but eventually in 1907 moved to Archer's law offices. In 1915 Archer wrote a book titled "The Educational Octopus" detailing the various difficulties surmounted in founding the school. (the entire text is available here)
By 1930 Suffolk Law School was one of the largest law schools in the United States. Archer founded The Suffolk College of Arts and Sciences in 1934, and the Sawyer School of Management—then known as the College of Business Administration—in 1937. Archer served as President of Suffolk University and Suffolk Law School until 1948. He was the author of over 30 books about diverse topics ranging from law to history to religion.
Archer married Elizabeth Snyder in 1906 and was the father the prominent Protestant theologian and author, Gleason Archer, Jr. Wife, Elizabeth died in 1961. Archer married Pauline (Polly) Clark in 1963.
Archer, Sr. died in 1966, aged 86, of prostate cancer.