Clow, Maurine, 1908-1986

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.

From the guide to the Maurine Clow's Miss Montana Pageant Papers, 1947-1968, (University of Montana--Missoula Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections)