Stephen H. Carpenter

Stephen Haskins Carpenter (August 7, 1831 – December 7, 1878) was an American academic, professor, philosopher, and linguist from Little Falls, New York. During his lifetime Carpenter oversaw the growth and management of various departments at the University of Wisconsin–Madison from the 1860s to the 1870s. Carpenter's primary focus of study was the English language and texts of the Anglo-Saxons, including specialties in Old English and Old English literature, such as literary works by Geoffrey Chaucer. Carpenter's contribution to the study of the Anglo-Saxon language and its grammar in-detail helped to pioneer an early form of language preservation of endangered languages and foster the study of extinct language.

Early life and education

Stephen Haskins Carpenter was born on August 7, 1831 in Little Falls, New York, to parents Reverend Calvin Green Carpenter and Laura Haskins-Carpenter. Carpenter was homeschooled as a child before entering his formal education at the Munro Collegiate Institute (also called the Munro Academy) in Elbridge, New York. In 1848 Carpenter enrolled at Madison College (later Colgate University) in Hamilton, New York, for two years before transferring to the University of Rochester and graduating with an Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1852, a Master of Arts (MA) in 1855, and later an Legum Doctor (LL.D.) degree in 1872.

Career

Carpenter first moved to Wisconsin in 1852 where he initially worked as a tutor for the University of Wisconsin–Madison. From 1857 to 1860 Carpenter served as the clerk of the Wisconsin Board of Education. In 1860 Carpenter was appointed as the professor of ancient languages at St. Paul's Episcopal College in Palmyra, Missouri. At the outbreak of the American Civil War Carpenter moved back to Wisconsin and worked in the printing trade before being elected as the city clerk of Madison, Wisconsin from 1864 to 1868. Carpenter was also the superintendent of Dane county schools before he eventually became a tutor and later an associate professor for UW-Madison. Carpenter succeeded UW-Madison professor Obadiah Conover as the professor of ancient languages, logic, rhetoric, and English literature in 1865 and would continue his teaching practice for many years.