Maurine Clow's Miss Montana Pageant Papers, 1947-1968

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Clow, Maurine (1908-1986)
Title
Maurine Clow's Miss Montana Pageant Papers
Dates
1947-1968 (inclusive)
Quantity
2.75 linear feet
Collection Number
Mss 592
Summary
The collection contains photographs, correspondence, clippings and miscellaneous materials related to the Miss Montana and Miss Montana State University (later The University of Montana) pageants.
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana--Missoula.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Maurine Clow was the longtime Associate Dean of Students at The University of Montana. She was born in Cavalier, North Dakota, in 1908. She had a bachelor’s and master’s degree in English literature and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, all from Stanford University. She was Associate Dean of Women at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, from 1939 to 1944. She served as The University of Montana Associate Dean of Students from 1946 until her retirement in 1973. She belonged to the Delta Gamma social sorority for over 50 years. She died in Missoula, Montana, in 1986.

Montana State University (now The University of Montana) took control over the Miss Montana Pageant in 1947, when the Associated Women students accepted the franchise to send their contestant to the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In 1947, Carol Chaffin was selected as Miss Montana and went onto compete in the national competition. Dr. Maurine Clow coordinated the Miss Montana committees with the chairmen, contestants, and students. She was also Miss Montana’s chaperone to the Miss America Pageant.

The Miss Montana State University Pageant was first held in 1959. Its first winner was Patti Jo Shaw of Deer Lodge, Montana. Miss Montana State University winners went onto compete in the Miss Montana competition.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains photographs, correspondence, clippings and miscellaneous materials related to the Miss Montana and Miss Montana State University (later The University of Montana) pageants. The collection begins with a chronological arrangement of photographs and other materials related to individual women who were Miss Montana. What follows is a chronological arrangement of photographs and other materials from the Miss Montana Pageant itself and from Miss Montana’s participation in the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The collection also contains materials from the Miss Montana State University Pageant and other University of Montana-related items. At the conclusion of the collection are pageant programs, two artifacts, and panoramic photographs and advertisements from the Miss America Pageant.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana.

Preferred Citation

[Name of document or photograph number], Maurine Clow's Miss Montana Pageant Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Materials have largely been arranged chronologically.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Joan Hodgson, 1990

Processing Note

The collection was organized and a finding aid written by Jennifer Rusk in Fall 2004.

Separated Materials

Negatives were physically removed from the collection for preservation.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder
1/1 Carol Chaffin (Miss Montana 1947) and Miss America Pageant, photographs and clippings 1947 and undated
1/2 Patti Luer (Miss Montana 1948), photographs and other materials 1948
1/3 Patti Luer (Miss Montana 1948) and Miss America Pageant, photographs and other materials 1948
1/4 Carol Fraser (Miss Montana 1949), photographs and other materials 1949 and undated
1/5 Donna Buls (Miss Montana 1950), photographs and other materials 1950 and undated
1/6 Patricia McGinty (Miss Montana 1951), clippings and correspondence 1951-1953
1/7 Patricia McGinty (Miss Montana 1951), photographs, [1951]
1/8 Karen Whittet (Miss Montana 1952), photographs 1952 and undated
1/9 Karen Whittet (Miss Montana 1952), clippings 1952
1/10 Joanna Lester (Miss Montana 1961), photographs and other materials 1960-1961 and undated
2/1 Miss Montana Program 1948-1952 and undated
2/2 Miss Montana Pageant, miscellaneous 1947-1951 and undated
2/3 Nancy Fields-Miss Montana Candidate circa 1949
2/4 Miss Montana Candidates, photographs 1949-1950
2/5 Miss Montana Pageant 1951
2/6 Miss Montana Pageant, photographs 1951
2/7 Miss Montana at Miss America Pageant, photographs, clippings, and writings 1952
2/8 Miss Montana, photographs 1952
2/9 Danny Lambros (Judges Committee Chair), correspondence 1952
2/10 [Miss Montana Candidates], photographs undated
2/11 Miss America Pageant correspondence with Montana State University 1946-1953
2/12 Miss America Pageant, campaign and publicity correspondence (includes correspondence from Lenora Slaughter) 1947-1949
2/13 Lenora Slaughter (Executive Director Miss America Pageant), correspondence 1949-1960
2/14 Miss America Pageant, photographs 1951-1952 and undated
2/15 New York, New York-Atlantic City, New Jersey Expense 1951-1952
2/16 Miss America Pageant, Miss Montana float suggestions 1951-1952
3/1 Miss America Pageant programs and handbooks, memorabilia 1946-1963 and undated
3/2 Miss America Pageant, photographs 1952-1959, and undated
3/3 Miss Montana State University Pageant, photographs and clippings 1961-1968 and undated
3/4 Miss Montana State University Candidates, photographs 1962-1963
3/5 Miss Montana State University Pageant, photographs 1962
3/6 Photographs [Miss Montana State University Pageant 1962]
3/7 Photographs [Miss Montana State University Pageant [1963]
3/8 University of Montana, miscellaneous 1961-1972 and undated
3/9 Photographs [Miss University of Montana Pageant [1967]
3/10 University of Montana 1969-1970 and undated
3/11 Delta Gamma Sorority 1953 and undated
3/12 Miscellaneous pageant winners and candidates, photographs undated
3/13 Miscellaneous pageant clippings 1947-1963
4/1 Miss Montana Pageant Programs, [1949]-1967
4/2 Miss America Pageant Programs 1946-1967
4/3 Miss University of Montana Programs 1962-1967
4/4 Handbook with notes about University of Montana student organizations 1937-1949
4/5 Publicity for Miss Clow’s speeches to groups 1949-1950
5/1 Junior Sponsors, photographs undated
5/2 Junior Sponsors 1971 and undated
Box
6 “Dr. Maurine Clow, Local Pageant Director,” pin undated
6 Montana bison copper keychain related to Miss Montana Pageant undated
6 3 rolled panoramic Catalina Swimsuit Advertisements at Miss America Pageant undated
6 Negatives
Miss Montana State University Pageant Formal Groups, 1961 Miss Montana State University Pageant, 1961 Miss Montana State University Groups at Theta House, 1961 Miss Montana State University Pageant, 1964

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Beauty contests--Montana
  • Beauty contests--United States

Corporate Names

  • University of Montana--Missoula
  • Miss America Pageant
  • Miss Montana Pageant
  • Miss Montana State University Pageant

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographs

Occupations

  • Women deans (Education)--Montana--Missoula