Conover, Charles Tallmadge, 1862-1961

Writer and businessman Charles Tallmadge Conover worked as an editor at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper during the mid-1880s, then formed the Crawford and Conover Real Estate firm with Samuel L. Crawford. He also authored several books, including Mirrors of Seattle: Reflecting Some Aged Men of Fifty and a biography of Thomas Burke. Conover helped organize the Seattle Humane Society, and served as publicity chairman for the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, where he coined the state nickname, "The Evergreen State."

From the description of C.T. Conover photograph collection, ca. 1880-1957 [graphic]. ca. 1880-1957. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 53258149

Businessman and newspaper columnist, Charles Tallmadge Conover (1862-1961), was born in Esperance, New York, on August 7, 1862, the son of Abram and Harriet M. (Tallmadge) Conover. After working as a journalist in New York State for two years, Conover moved to British Columbia. He then worked briefly for the Tacoma Ledger (1887-1888) and even more briefly as the city editor for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. In 1888, he formed Crawford & Connor with another P-I reporter, Samuel L. Crawford. Crawford & Conover were real estate and financial brokers, and after a slow start, became quite successful. In 1891, Conover married Mary Louise Burns. They had one child, Tallmadge. After Mary Louise Burns' death in 1914, Conover married his second wife, Idelle M. Conkling, in 1931. Crawford & Conover were responsible for a national campaign, advertising Seattle and Washington State, and Conover is credited with coining "The Evergreen State" as Washington's nickname. He also advocated for the name Mount Rainier in 1917 before the United States Geographic Board, and actively campaigned for the continued use of the name Mt. Rainier in 1924 when a resolution was put before Congress to change the name to Mt. Tacoma. After retiring from real estate in 1941, Conover returned to writing, penning a column, "Just Cogitating" for the Seattle Times. Conover also authored several books, including Mirrors of Seattle (1923) and a biography of Judge Thomas Burke. He was a member of the Rainier Club, the Holland Society, the Sons of the American Revolution, and was active in the foundation of the Seattle Humane Society. Conover died in August, 1961.

From the description of Charles Tallmadge Conover papers, 1889-1956. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 123949501

Businessman and newspaper columnist, Charles Tallmadge Conover (1862-1961), was born in Esperance, New York, on August 7, 1862, the son of Abram and Harriet M. (Tallmadge) Conover. After working as a journalist in New York State for two years, Conover moved to British Columbia. He then worked briefly for the Tacoma Ledger (1887-1888) and even more briefly as the city editor for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. In 1888, he formed Crawford & Connor with another P-I reporter, Samuel L. Crawford. Crawford & Conover were real estate and financial brokers, and after a slow start, became quite successful. In 1891, Conover married Mary Louise Burns. They had one child, Tallmadge. After Mary Louise Burns' death in 1914, Conover married his second wife, Idelle M. Conkling, in 1931. Crawford & Conover were responsible for a national campaign, advertising Seattle and Washington State, and Conover is credited with coining "The Evergreen State" as Washington's nickname. He also advocated for the name Mount Rainier in 1917 before the United States Geographic Board. After retiring from real estate in 1941, Conover returned to writing, penning a column, "Just Cogitating" for the Seattle Times. Conover also authored several books, including Mirrors of Seattle (1923) and a biography of Judge Thomas Burke. He was a member of the Rainier Club, the Holland Society, the Sons of the American Revolution, and was active in the foundation of the Seattle Humane Society. Conover died in August, 1961.

From the description of Charles T. Conover scrapbooks, 1941-1956. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 275174450

Charles Tallmadge Conover was born in Esperance, New York, on August 7, 1862, the son of Abram and Harriet M. (Tallmadge) Conover. He married Mary Louise Burns on June 30, 1891, and they had one child, Tallmadge. Conover married his second wife, Idelle M. Conkling, on September 5, 1931. In 1884 he came west and spent two years in British Columbia, after which he worked for a short time as editor of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer 's city section. He resigned from the Post-Intelligencer in 1888 and formed a real estate business with another former P.-I. employee, Samuel L. Crawford. Conover achieved financial success with the company, eventually serving as its president.

Conover coined the term "The Evergreen State," a nickname for the state of Washington, while working as chairman of the publicity committee of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce. He also authored several books, including Mirrors of Seattle: Reflecting Some Aged Men of Fifty and a biography of Thomas Burke. He chaired the library committee of the Rainier Club and was instrumental in organizing the Seattle Humane Society.

From the guide to the C.T. Conover Photograph Collection, ca. 1880-1957, (University of Washington Libraries Special Collections)