Timothy Paul Donovan was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on December 25, 1927 to Gretchen and Harry Donovan. He received his early education in Terre Haute, Indiana until 1943 when he and his family moved to Pryor, Oklahoma. After graduating Pryor High School in 1945 he decided to pursue an undergraduate degree at the University of Oklahoma, Norman. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in January 1949. After graduating, Donovan decided to stay at the University of Oklahoma, Norman and complete his M.A. in 1950 and his Ph.D in 1960. While at school Donovan met Eugenia Matella Trapp and they married on June 1, 1950. Together they had four children, Kevin, Rebecca, David, and Richard.

While attending graduate school, Donovan taught history, English, and American Government classes at the Oklahoma Military Academy in Claremore, Oklahoma. After earning his Ph.D in 1960, Donovan received a job as assistant professor of history at Texas Tech University, and worked there until 1969. In 1969, Donovan became a Professor for the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville where he spent the rest of his academic career, becoming Chairman of the History Department from 1976-1986 and University Professor from 1987-1990. In addition to being the recipient of the Standard Oil Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching for 1968-1969 and the Outstanding Educators of America Award for 1975, Donovan was also a member of the Arkansas, Southern, and American History Associations, the Popular Culture Association, and Phi Alpha Theta. Donovan was the author of three books: Henry Adams and Brooks Adams: The Education of Two Historians (1961), Historical Thought in America: Postwar Patterns (1973), and co-authored The Governors of Arkansas with Dr. William Gatewood (1981).

Donovan died on May 5, 1990 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He was admired by students and colleagues for his wit, unique and effective teaching style, and devotion to the study of history. To honor his contributions to the field of history, the Oklahoma Military Academy has established the Timothy Donovan Memorial Scholarship Endowment for students studying history at RSU, and the University of Arkansas History Department annually sponsors the Timothy P. Donovan Lectures.