Stephen Haskins Carpenter

Background

Stephen Haskins Carpenter was born on August 7, 1831 at Little Falls, Herkimer County, New York, United States.

Education

Stephen's early education was obtained at his own home and at Munro Academy, Elbridge, New York. In 1848 he entered Madison University, Hamilton, New York, where he spent his first two college years, transferring to the University of Rochester, from which he was graduated in 1852.

Career

Coming to Wisconsin, Carpenter was appointed tutor in succession to Obadiah Milton Conover, holding the position for two years. During the four succeeding years he was editor and one of the publishers of the Daily Patriot, and later of the Western Fireside, whereupon he became assistant state superintendent of public instruction in Wisconsin, which position he held from 1858 to 1860.

In 1860 he was appointed professor of ancient languages in St. Paul's College, Palmyra, Missouri, holding this position until the Civil War compelled the closing of the institution. Returning to Wisconsin, he was engaged in various enterprises, serving as city clerk of Madison, 1864-68, and clerk of the board of education, 1865-72. In 1868 he was appointed professor of rhetoric and English literature in the University of Wisconsin in succession to Daniel Read who had been elected president of the University (the title of the professorship was changed in 1874 to logic and English literature).

The versatility of Carpenter's interests is shown in his continued participation in civil affairs, in a volume of educational addresses, a collection of "Songs for the Sabbath School, " a volume of twelve lectures on Christian evidences, translations from the French, papers on logic and metaphysics in the Transactions of the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters, and in his contributions in the field of Anglo-Saxon and early English languages, on which, in addition to his great power as a teacher, rest his claims to remembrance. In 1872 he published English of the Fourteenth Century, a critical study of the English of Chaucer. In 1875 he issued a text-book, An Introduction to the Study of the Anglo-Saxon Language, which was widely used. His History of the University of Wisconsin from 1849-76, published in 1876, tells the story of the University from its founding, in 1850, through the reorganizations of 1858 and 1866. His last publication, Elements of English Analysis (1877), was widely used as a grammar text.

In 1875 Carpenter was elected to the presidency of the University of Kansas, but declined the appointment. His premature death occurred at Geneva, New York, of diphtheria which had already proved fatal to his brother and a nephew, a few days before.

Achievements

• He served as a professor of rhetoric and English literature in the University of Wisconsin.

Works

More photos

• book

  • English of the Xivth Century: Illustrated by Notes, Gramatical and Philological, On Chaucer's Prologue and Knight's Tale. Designed to Serve As an Introduction to the Study of English Literature

    (This book was originally published prior to 1923, and rep...)

  • An Introduction to the Study of the Anglo-Saxon Language

    (This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curat...)

Connections

He was married in 1856 to Frances Curtis of Madison.

Spouse:

Frances Curtis