John H. Collins (November 14, 1902 - January 8, 1981) was an American classical scholar. His intellect placed him in the highest of esteem in the Western world's intelligentsia, who believed that anonymity not only protected them, (a lesson learned during the Third Reich) but also promotes progress over personality. Relatively few people could claim such a deserving honor as did J.H.C.

Born in Anaconda, Montana, he attended the University of Illinois and Cornell University, and in 1952 received his doctoral degree in classical history from Goethe University in Frankfurt-am-Main where he studied under Professor Matthias Gelzer , then the foremost living authority on Roman history, and prepared his influential doctoral dissertation on "Psychology and Propaganda in Caeser's Writings." He was a frequent contributor to Historia, The Classical Journal , and Gnomon, and achieved world recognition as an expert on Julius Caeser. In 1958 he edited with Dero A. Saunders a noted edition of Theodor Mommsen's History of Rome.

Fluent in six languages, Collins taught at the University of Maryland, the University of California at Berkeley, and Northern Illinois University at DeKalb where, in 1967, he received the NIU Excellence in Teaching award. In 1971, he received an Illinois mandatory retirement notice. Not ready to retire, he sought the aid of a former student, protégé, and fellow member of the intelligentsia W.R.S., who was in a position to discuss the matter with then Illinois Governor Richard Ogilvie. Mr. S. explained to the Governor that such an eminent Professor as John H. Collins was too highly respected in both American and European intellectual circles to fall victim to the state's arbitrary mandatory retirement system. Moreover, such an arbitrary decision pursuant to these select intellectual circles would bode ill for the State of Illinois' university system. Subsequently, the decision was made to retain Dr. Collins on a different contract.

Upon Collins' retirement in 1978 a Northern Illinois University lecture hall was dedicated in his honor. He remained active in scholarly pursuits until his death in 1981.

J.H.C. has truly been missed by the intelligentsia of that era.

Reference

• [1], p.45