MTGMss582.xml Guide to the Mary Brennan Clapp Papers 1911-1964 Clapp (Mary Brennan) Papers Finding aid prepared by Jennifer Rusk Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula © 2004
The University of Montana--Missoula Missoula, MT 59812 406-243-2053 http://www.lib.umt.edu/asc library.archives@umontana.edu
Finding aid encoded by Donna McCrea 2004 Finding aid written in English. University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
The University of Montana--Missoula Missoula, MT 59812 406-243-2053 http://www.lib.umt.edu/asc library.archives@umontana.edu
Mss 582 Clapp, Mary Brennan, 1884-1966 Mary Brennan Clapp papers 1911-1964 1.25 linear feet The collection contains research materials related to and manuscripts of Mary Brennan Clapp’s history of The University of Montana, 1893-1935. Materials are in English Biographical Note

Mary Clapp was born in Devils Lake, North Dakota. She earned her master’s degree from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, where she taught in the English department. She moved to Missoula, Montana, in 1921, when her husband accepted the post of president of The University of Montana. After her husband’s death in office in 1935, Clapp taught in the English Department. She held this position until the mid-1950s.

Clapp was asked to write a university history by President James McCain (1945-1950) and she finished the work by 1961. The work remained unpublished at the time of her death in 1966.

The collection contains two copies of Clapp’s unpublished manuscript Narrative of Montana State University, 1893-1935. The history covers The University of Montana’s formative years and the administrations of its first five presidents. Clapp’s handwritten notes appear in the margins and one set is marked “corrected copy.” The manuscripts are copies of an original manuscript that has disappeared.

The collection also contains correspondence, publications, writings, and clippings related to Clapp’s history. The authors of these materials include many notable figures in university history, including Charles Clapp, Lucille Armsby, Mary Elrod Ferguson, J.B. Speer, and many others. Some of the topics include the acquisition and development of campus land, university rules, publicity about Clapp’s history, and an Annual Financial Report of the University, 1919-1920.

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.

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright status unknown.

[Name of document or photograph number], Mary Brennan Clapp Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana--Missoula.

Copies of the manuscript were in the possession of Lucie Hagens and Peggy Smurr for forty years until they were donated to the archives.

Gift of John Hagens, Lucie C. Hagens, and Margaret Clapp Smurr, 2002.

Two separate accessions of materials were combined to create this collection. In 2015, photocopies of the two manuscripts were removed from the collection and returned to the family.

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

University of Montana--Missoula--History University of Montana--Missoula--Presidents Women historians--Montana --Missoula Histories Universities and colleges--Montana--Missoula--History Colleges and Universities Narrative of Montana State University, 1893-1935 1/1 Mary Clapp's Research and publicity materials for Narrative of Montana State University, 1893-1935 1911-1964

Includes correspondence, clippings, university pamphlets and an article, "Land for the Campus," by J. B. Speer.

 1/2-3 Lucie C. Hagens' original copy of Narrative of Montana State University, 1893-1935, by Mary Brennan Clapp c. 1950s

With some edits.

 1/4-12 Margaret Clapp Smurr's original copy of Narrative of Montana State University, 1893-1935, by Mary Brennan Clapp c. 1950s

"Corrected copy" with significant edits.