Mrs. Flora Cowan (1902-1986) was born on July 15, 1902 in Edinburgh, Scotland. She was the daughter of Adam and Helen Cruickshank and immigrated to Brandon with her parents in 1927. She married E.C. Cowan, and they had two children, Franklin and Ruth. From 1953 until Brandon College became Brandon University, she served as the Dean of Women. In 1966 she received the Good Citizenship Award of the Golden Boys of Manitoba. She was a member of the I.O.D.E. and a life-member of the International Peace Garden, and the Provincial Council of Women. From 1954 to 1970 Mrs. Cowan served as a member of the Brandon City Council and was the first woman to be appointed acting mayor. She was also the Chairman of the Board for Fairview Home, Inc. In 1967, Mrs. Cowan received the Trillium Business and Professional Club Woman of the Year Award. She was also a member of several other community committees. The women's residence at Brandon University, Flora Cowan, is named in her honour. In December 1980, Mrs. Cowan finally retired from her many positions. She died in Brandon on September 25, 1986 at the age of 84.
Photograph came from the estate of Margaret Hawley Speers, Class of 1928. It was donated to the McKee Archives by her cousin David Speers in July 2009.
Scope and Content
Item consists of 87 small portraits of the members of the Brandon College Arts Class of 1928. There are also portraits of H.L. McNeill, Dean of Arts, and Prof. C.P. Kerr, Hon. President, as well as a photo of the Brandon College campus. The Class of 1928's motto "Patet Omnibus Veritas" is also included.
