ARCHER, John Clark. Wilma, Maryland 23.12.1881 — Hamden, Conn. 7.7.1957. U.S. Missionary and Scholar of Comparative Religion. Son of John Archer and Virginia Augusta Clark. Father died early and in 1891 his mother married —> G. W. Brown (he is thus half-brother of W. N. Brown). Educated at Hiram College, O. (B.A. 1905) and Yale (B.D., M.A. 1914). Ordained priest 1905. After having been an educational missionary in India (Jabalpur) in 1907-11, he returned to the U.S.A. and completed his graduate studies. In 1917-18 educational secretary of Y.M.C.A. with British army in Iraq. Ph.D. 1922 Yale. From 1914 Lecturer in Missions at Yale Divinity School, then 1916 Associate Pro­fessor and 1924 Professor of Missions and Comparative Religion, ibid. From 1932 Hocker Pro­fessor of Comparative Religion, ibid. Retired in 1950. In 1937 one year at Khalsa College in Amritsar preparing his book on the Sikhs. Married 1906 Catharina (Carrie) Brewster Alford, one daughter and one son.

Publications: Wrote on Indian and other religions (Islam), i. al.: The Sikhs in relation to Hindus, Moslems, Christians, and Ahmadiyyas. Study in comparative religion. 11+353 p. Princeton 1946.

– Chapter “Hinduism”, E. J. Jurji (ed.), The Great Religions of the World. 8+387 p. Princeton 1946.

– Books on Islam and Christianity.

Sources: Short obituary note in JAOS 78, 1958, 225; Who Was Who in Am. 3; prebook.com; bibliography by N.J. Hein, The Muslim World 50, 1960, 207-212.