Claude Moore Fuess (January 12, 1885 – September 11, 1963) was an American author, historian, educator, and the 10th Headmaster[a] of Phillips Academy Andover from 1933 to 1948.

After attending Amherst College and earning a PhD at Columbia University, Fuess taught English at Phillips Academy from 1908 to 1933.

He is credited as the author or editor of over 30 books and articles including biographies of Caleb Cushing, Calvin Coolidge, Rufus Choate, Daniel Webster, and Carl Schurz.

[7] He had one younger brother named Harold L. Fuess, an active member of local government in and around Waterville including Town Clerk of Sangerfield, New York.

"[11][12] Despite such difficulty Fuess decided not to simplify his name because of the legal obstacles he would face and the honor it held to him personally and in Bavaria.

[3][20] He was awarded a Doctorate of Letters, an honorary degree from Amherst College in 1929 for his career as an English teacher and author.

[22] Frederick Allis, who discusses Fuess in his book Youth From Every Quarter: A Bicentennial History of Phillips Academy, Andover characterizes his relationship with Amherst "clearly a love affair.

[23][20] As an English teacher he focused on teaching his students to articulate themselves and nurturing their natural instincts of curiosity and a desire to learn.

[3] John U. Monro, Class of 1930 and later Trustee of Phillips Academy, found himself throughout his life "dependent for survival" on the "solid growing pleasure he takes in the use of language he traces back easily to Jack Fuess.

The successful banker Thomas Cochran had worked closely with architect Charles Platt over the past several years to transform the campus and construct a number of new buildings, notably the Addison Gallery of American Art.

This time he was interested in a job as Professor of Biography at Amherst College, which would allow him to continue his writing career more freely.

[10] During the first few years of his administration Fuess worked to acquire funds to renovate Bulfinch Hall to house the school's English Department.

With a gift totaling $725,000 from Edward Harkness he was able to renovate the building and install English classrooms as well as provide five teaching foundations including on-campus residences for each.

One student said the following of him: "We thought Claudie was born to be a college president...and I think we admired him for putting up with the likes of us so patiently and so affably while he was waiting for the lightning to strike.

I just know he always performed as we thought he should....I can see him now, dressed like a banker with pince nez in place, standing in the middle of a gym floor crowded with students, saying just the right thing.

"[35] Just months after George H. W. Bush and family friend Godfrey A. Rockefeller graduated in 1942, Fuess without warning announced his plan to ban secret societies.

Fuess and the Trustees, including President of the Board Henry Stimson, never disclosed why they decided to act at that moment, but they cited an incident in 1934 that resulted in the death of a student, described as such:[30][36] "In 1934 one undergraduate had been killed during the course of a Society initiation.

The roads were slippery, and the car crashed into a telegraph pole, crushing the boy, who died in Dr. Fuess's presence in the hospital a few hours later.

While alumni against the decision accused Fuess of "facism", those who agreed with him noted that secret societies "promoted exclusiveness", operated "on a special privilege basis," and created "social cleavage.

[5] He wrote several books on New England academic institutions including Phillips Academy and Amherst College and their respective towns.

According to the authors of an unauthorized biography of George H. W. Bush, Fuess failed to mention the opium trafficking industry that brought both families (Coolidge's and Cushing's) their wealth.

"[30] Upon his appointment as Headmaster in 1933 Fuess decided to finish his current projects, notably a history of Amherst College and a biography of President Calvin Coolidge, instead of devoting his time completely to the school.

Allis argues in his bicentennial history of Phillips Academy that Fuess' occupation with his writing career hindered his effectiveness as Headmaster.

[42] In his speech titled "Escape from the Dead Hand", Fuess believed in a bright future for the seminary, in part because it had moved on from its rigid past.

[44] In the same year, he was interviewed by Frank W. Rounds of the Columbia University Oral History Research Project, focusing on his time at Andover.

His epitaph reads: For forty years ateacher and headmaster"Wit graced his learningand generous warmthhis friendship"Fuess is credited as the author or editor of over 30 books and articles.