Robert Henry Pfeiffer

Robert Henry Pfeiffer (1892–1958) was a professor, museum curator, and Assyriologist. After serving as a Methodist pastor from 1916 to 1919 in Sanborn, New York, Pfeiffer taught at Harvard University beginning in 1922. He earned his M.A. in 1920 and Ph.D. in 1922 and, the following year, he also earned a Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.) from Harvard. He directed the Harvard-Baghdad School excavations at Nuzi, Iraq (from 1928). In 1930, he was appointed as an assistant professor. He also served as a professor at the School of Theology of Boston University. From 1931, he served as curator of the Harvard Semitic Museum.

Career He was named to the Hancock Professor of Hebrew and Other Oriental languages in 1953, announced by the provost Paul H. Buck. He held this chair from 1953–58.