John Collier was born in Atlanta, Georgia on May 4, 1884.

In his early career, John worked as a teacher and was involved with social work and community development. He then served as the United States Commissioner of Indian Affairs between 1933 and 1945. Later, he served as an adviser on trusteeship to the United Nations and as a professor of sociology at City College of New York. Between 1926 and 1933, John Collier also edited American Indian Life Magazine.

John Collier died on May 8, 1968.