James Arnold Blaisdell (December 15, 1867 – January 29, 1957) was an American minister, theologian, and academic administrator.

He envisioned what would become the Claremont Colleges in 1923 when faced with increasing enrollment at Pomona, so that rather than compromising the small college’s atmosphere, several small schools could coexist and share common facilities such as a library, much like Oxford.

He became the head of the Claremont University Consortium in 1927, when he resigned as president of Pomona.

[3] He continued in this capacity until 1935, retiring to La Jolla, California, but upon the death of his wife in 1940, returned to Claremont, California for the last 17 years of his life, observing and overseeing the growth of what had become five institutions.

[4] Blaisdell was honored by the city of Claremont with the dedication of a public park in his name in 1962.