Barclay Acheson

An ordained minister, Barclay Acheson became the Associate General Secretary for NER in 1922. He spent the summer of 1922 visiting orphanages throughout the Near East. The experience left him with a profound appreciation for fieldwork.

A year later, he assumed direction of all relief work in Greece, Syria, and the Caucasus. Acheson was based in Athens during the tumultuous population exchange between Greece and Turkey following the Smyrna disaster. By 1925, Acheson had become the Director of Overseas Operations.

Barclay Acheson received numerous accolades for his work with NER, including the Greek Red Cross Medal and the Greek Cross of the Redeemer. But when asked about his greatest accomplishment, Barclay Acheson simply said “I made the children laugh.”

When Near East Relief transitioned to the Near East Foundation, Acheson became the Executive Secretary. His leadership was central to the new organization’s direction and purpose. He held that position for seven years, while also working as an associate editor at Reader’s Digest. He left to work for Reader’s Digest full-time in 1937. He continued his involvement with NEF as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Acheson remained active on the NEF board until his death in 1957. Acheson’s daughter, Judy Thompson, and grandson, Geoffrey Thompson, served on the NEF Board of Directors for many years.