Gleason Archer, Sr.

Gleason Archer Sr. (October 29, 1880 – June 28, 1966) was the founder and first president of Suffolk University and Suffolk Law School in Boston, Massachusetts. Archer was also an extensive writer and radio broadcaster.

Gleason Leonard Archer was born in 1880 in Great Pond, Maine. Archer was the third son in a family of seven, and at 13-years old he left Sabattus, Maine. He graduated in 1902 as valedictorian of his high school class. 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. During that time, 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. Archer received his B.A. from Boston University in 1904 and his LL.B. in 1906.

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 and the strong opposition from Harvard University. (the entire text is available here) Many of Suffolk's earliest students were working-class Irish immigrants.

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