Laird Archer (1892-1981) was born to John Archer and Ida Miller in Argonia, Kansas. He worked for Henry J. Allen Publications prior to becoming Governor Allen's secretary in 1920. Between 1922 and 1923, Archer worked for Near East Relief, where he analyzed refugee problems in Russia, Turkey, and Iraq. In 1930, Archer became Foreign Director of the Near East Foundation and remained at that post until 1952, when he retired to "Markham Hill" in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Archer also chaired the American Reparation Committee in 1941 and the Coordinating Committee of American Agencies for Reconstruction Planning in 1942 and 1943. Archer published The Balkan Journal (1944). Composed of excerpts from his diary, The Balkan Journal deals chiefly with international affairs between June 1934 and August 1941. Archer was married to Mary Balderston between 1919 and 1946, and Evangeline Pratt Waterman from 1947 until his death in 1981.