Title: Obadiah M. Conover Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1843-1924

Creator:

• Conover, Obadiah M., 1825-1884

Call Number: Mss 20; Mss 147

Quantity: 1.4 c.f. (4 archives boxes)

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Personal papers of Conover, a University of Wisconsin professor of ancient languages and literature, and reporter for the Supreme Court of Wisconsin, including writings by Conover on religion and on the University; diaries kept by Conover as a Princeton University student and at various times later; poetry by Conover and by his daughter, Edith; notes on Conover family genealogy; and correspondence pertaining to the Wisconsin State Colonization Society (founded to assist Afro-American colonization of Liberia), to the reorganization of the University in 1858, to religion and social life in Madison, and to family business affairs. Correspondents include John G. McMynn, Lyman C. Draper, Carl Schurz, Henry Barnard, Paul A. Chadbourne, Josiah L. Pickard, his future wife Sarah Fairchild Dean, and Conover family members.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mss00020

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Obadiah Milton Conover, son of Obadiah Berlew and Sarah Miller Conover, was born in Dayton, Ohio, on October 8, 1825. He graduated from the College of New Jersey (Princeton) in 1844. During the next two years, he taught Latin and Greek in Lexington, Kentucky, and at the Dayton Academy, Dayton, Ohio. In 1846 he returned to Princeton and graduated from the theological seminary in 1849.

In 1849 Mr. Conover moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where for a short time he was editor of the North-Western Journal, a literary and educational monthly. In 1850 he became instructor in ancient languages at the University of Wisconsin. From 1852 to 1858 he was professor of ancient languages and literature at the University. He resigned from the faculty in 1858.

Returning to law, which he had studied while in Ohio, Conover was admitted to the Dane County Bar in 1859. In 1861, he became associated with P. L. Spooner, Reporter of the Supreme Court of Wisconsin, in the preparation and publication of the Wisconsin Reports, a published record of Supreme Court decisions. Conover succeeded Spooner as Reporter in 1864 and held the post until his death in 1884. For eleven years of this period he also was Librarian of the State Library in the Court's jurisdiction.

Among his other activities, Mr. Conover was one of the founders of the Madison Literary Guild, and a charter member of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. He was a curator of the Society and for sixteen years the treasurer. He was a member of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents.

Conover was known among his friends for his literary knowledge and judgment and for his abilities as a poet. Two of his poems particularly, “Via Solitaria” and “Reconciliation”, received wide attention.

In 1849, Conover married Miss Julia Darst. They had three children, Edith W., Allan D., and Frederic K., before her death in 1863. In 1882, he married Mrs. Sarah Fairchild Dean. They embarked on an extended vacation in Europe where Conover hoped to recover the good health which in recent years had deserted him. He died while in England, April 29, 1884.

The Conover Papers were received and organized in two separate parts. Part I is the original collection received in 1967. It has been assigned call number Mss 20, dates 1843 to 1924, and consists of 3 archives boxes. Part I consists chiefly of correspondence relating to personal affairs. References in the letters are made to religion and to education in Wisconsin, but Conover's ideas concerning these topics and the University of Wisconsin in particular, will be found mainly in folders of his writings (Box 2). Most of the correspondence is with Mrs. Sarah Fairchild Dean, 1866-1882, whom he married in 1882; and Wilbur Conover, his brother, whose letters, 1845-1879, relate to family and business affairs in Dayton, Ohio. Letters in 1853 and 1854 show his interest in helping to form the Wisconsin State Colonization Society as an auxiliary to the American Colonization Society, for the purpose of helping colored people who wished to go to Liberia, West Africa, to settle.

There are a few letters from Julia Conover, O. M. Conover's first wife, and from his children, Edith W., Allan D., and Frederic K. In addition, Part I of the collection contains genealogical material with information relating to the various branches of the Conover family, and especially to the descendants of Obadiah Berlew Conover. One folder contains miscellaneous documents concerning Conover's financial affairs, i.e. indentures, mortgages, and receipts; and one folder has poetry written by Edith W. Conover.

Part II of the Conover Papers was received in the Archives in 1970. This part was assigned call number Mss 147, dates 1842 to 1884, and consists of 1 archives box. Part II includes correspondence, speeches and writings, diaries, printed poetry by Conover, a printed eulogy on his death, and miscellaneous other materials. Probably of most interest to a biographer, the major quantity of papers consists of drafts of speeches and essays written by Conover while a student in Ohio and New Jersey. Next largest in quantity are pocket diaries maintained sporadically by Conover between 1865 and 1879. Their notations are extremely brief and usually concern his daily activities with occasional notations of weather conditions or financial transactions.

The correspondence found in Part II is small in quantity and scattered in date; it includes business letters and letters to and from family and friends. One topic of interest in the undated materials is a law case involving a claim by the real estate firm Delaplaine and Burdick to Madison land originally deeded to James D. Doty and others. Conover was apparently involved in the case in a legal capacity and arguments and notes are included in these papers.

Arrangement of Part II is chronological.

Acquisition Information

Part I presented by Mrs. C. M. Morris (Mary Fairchild), date unknown; Edith W. Conover, date unknown; Mrs. Frederic K. Conover, 1931; Mrs. O. M. Conover, date unknown; and Myron Stevens, executor of the estate of Mrs. Frederic K. Conover, 1963. Part II transferred from the Historical Society Museum, 1970.

Processing Information

Part I processed by 1967 archives students and by Margaret Hafstad, August 14, 1968. Part II processed by Karen Baumann, January 12, 1971.

Mss 20	Series: Part I, 1843-1924
	Correspondence
Box   1 Folder   1	1844-1854
Box   1 Folder   2	1855-1860
Box   1 Folder   3	1861-1869
Box   1 Folder   4	1870, Jan.-June
Box   1 Folder   5	1870, July-Dec.
Box   1 Folder   6	1872-1874
Box   2 Folder   1	1875-1876
Box   2 Folder   2	1877-1879
Box   2 Folder   3	1880-1881, May
Box   2 Folder   4	1881, June-1882
Box   2 Folder   5	1883-1888, 1890-1896, 1910-1924, undated
Box   2 Folder   6	Financial Papers, 1843-1885
Box   2 Folder   7	University of Wisconsin Papers - Conover's writings
Box   2 Folder   8	Speech (by Conover?)
Box   2 Folder   9	Religion - Conover's writings
Box   2 Folder   10	Invitations and memorabilia
Box   3 Folder   1	Edith Conover - Poetry
Box   3 Folder   2	Genealogical notes
Box   3 Volume   1	O. M. Conover, notebook, 1843-1845, kept while at Princeton University, including diary entries
Box   3 Volume   2	Notes on the Conover Family
Box   3 Volume   3	Obadiah Berlew Conover: Genealogical notes on his descendants
Mss 147	Series: Part II, 1842-1884	⇧
	Miscellaneous Papers
Box   1 Folder   1	1842, October-1843, August
Box   1 Folder   2	1843, November-1844, July
Box   1 Folder   3	1844, August-October
Box   1 Folder   4	1844, November-1845, April
Box   1 Folder   5	1845, April-July
Box   1 Folder   6	1845, July-1846, August
Box   1 Folder   7	1849-1884
Box   1 Folder   8	Undated
	Diaries
Box   1 Volume   1	1865
Box   1 Volume   2	1866
Box   1 Volume   3	1868
Box   1 Volume   4	1869
Box   1 Volume   5	1870
Box   1 Volume   6	1871
Box   1 Volume   7	1872
Box   1 Volume   8	1873
Box   1 Volume   9	1874
Box   1 Volume   10	1877
Box   1 Volume   11	1878
Box   1 Volume   12	1879