Archibald Douglas

It would be hard to cite a life more rounded or more widely useful than that of Archibald Douglas. Energy stood at the heart of his career; but thanks to the balance of his nature, a rarely harmonious personality was the result. The multiplicity of his business and charitable activities never interfered with his zest for life, for friendship, for family. A highly successful lawyer—he was a specialist in mining law and counsel to some of the greatest mining corporations—he could turn out ingenious verses or make a graceful speech without effort. He delighted in conviviality; the amenities meant much to him; his punctilious courtesy matched his humor.

His charitable, humanitarian and social welfare labors were legion. He worked long and selflessly for the Memorial Hospital in this city, for one conspicuous example. Among Columbia men he was the chief of all alumni. He was twice elected Alumni Trustee—the only graduate to be so honored—and was chosen Life Trustee. President [Nicholas Murray] Butler said of him: “No demand upon his time was too severe to be met and no claim upon his attention was passed by.”

He turned constantly to sports. In the pioneer days of golf in this country, he was an active member of St. Andrews, serving later as its president. He was an expert fisherman, hunter and camper. Curling appealed to him and he was a leading figure in developing the sport in this country, playing on American teams in their games with the Canadians. He served with the 12th Regiment of the United States Army in the Spanish-American war and with the 7th Regiment of the New York National Guard.

No listing of his manifold activities would be possible; nor would it suggest a true picture of Douglas. For he was above all else a kindly, modest and cheerful human being who enjoyed life to the hilt. If the Century saw much too little of him in his busy years, it was for no lack of friendships there. Wherever he went, loyalty and affection greeted him.

Geoffrey Parsons
1943 Century Memorials