Allan Conover

Allan Darst Conover (September 9, 1854 - May 23, 1929), also spelled as Alan Conover, was an American architect and civil engineer from Wisconsin. During his career Conover was responsible for building a number of notable buildings in Wisconsin. Conover was the employer and longtime business partner of Lew F. Porter, together they established the architectural firm Conover & Porter which constructed a variety of notable buildings around Madison, Wisconsin. Conover, along with Porter, were both mentors of Frank Lloyd Wright, who worked as an apprentice for their firm.

Early life

Allan Darst Conover was born on September 9, 1854 in Madison, Wisconsin to parents Obediah Milton Conover and Julia Ann Darst (1827-1863). His family was of Dutch heritage. Conover's father Obediah was the editor of The Northwestern Journal of Education, Science and General Literature, as well as being a university professor. Obediah was also the official reporter of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Conover studied civil engineering and architecture at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and graduated in 1874 with a Bachelors degree in civil engineering (BCE). From 1877 to 1878 Conover was engaged in general engineer in Madison before becoming the professor of civil engineering and mathematics for the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1878 to 1879. During this time Conover and Porter hired several apprentices, among them were Frank Lloyd Wright who worked with their firm for two years from 1885 to 1887 as a junior draftsman. According to William Allin Storrer, author of The Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright: A Complete Catalog, Conover was not always pleased with Wright's work as a junior draftsman and often critiqued him.

Partial list of works

The University of Wisconsin Science Hall in Madison, Wisconsin. The Second Ward School in Baraboo, Wisconsin. The South School in Stoughton, Wisconsin. The Security Savings Bank in Ashland, Wisconsin. The Christian Dick Block in Madison. The Antigo Public Library in Antigo, Wisconsin. The Agricultural Dean's House in Madison. The University of Wisconsin Armory and Gymnasium in Madison. Machinery Row in Madison.

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