The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16
GOWNS IN THE UNIVERSITY.
Significance of the Different ColOrs
and Patterns.

and Patterns.
New York Evening Post.
At commandments and other academic
ceremonies the appearance OF the of1cets
of the different universities and colleges IN
their caps gowns and hoods always at
tracts no little attention. and the masses OF
bright colors and rich materials to be found
in their robes are a source of much interest
TO those persons not verSed in College Gus
toms. While the senior in his cap and
g1Wn as n ne > appear; : at doS Glass day ve on tine tine
posing sort of parsonage to Others than
himself, yet as a mere spectacle ne must
yield 10 his professors and instructors, whose
costumes seem to fairly run riot with coiors.
This effect. however. is not accomplished ny
mere chance or aesthetic fancy, but in con-
formity with a code which is almost as
minute in its specifications as would be
found in the regulations governing the uni
forms Of the army and navy.
so rapidly that a Few years ago a commIs-
sion representing a number of American
colleges and universities was assembled TO
discuss the question of academic costume.
and to make recommendations that would
tend to secure a uniformity Of practice.
Previously there had been the widest d.
versity in the rules OF the different colleges,
and there could be found costumes consist
Ing of a scarlet robe trimmed with purple
velvet and surmounted with a gayly :olored
hood edged with ermine, as was cnce pro-
vided for in the regulations of Columbia
University. to the more sombre gown OF
plain black silk. devoid of velvet or other
II lOQ, ana hacking also Il nOOu.
Now. however. the rules of the commission
have found general acceptance, AID 1t is
possible to tell at a glance the degree, the
faculty to which it pertains, and the uni
Starting with the gown we have to re-
member that the higher the degree the
becomes. The undergraduates, should he
wear a gown. has it made quite scanty of
some black cloth with pointed sleeves, and
wears with 1t the mortar-board or oxford
cap. After receiving his bachelors degree
the gown is made fuller and usually of a
inner material. and on occasions of cere-
mony is worn with a hood, which will be
described later. The sleeves are open and
pointed, but there is no trimming or orna-
mentation on the gown. After the degree of
master OF arts, of science, or of any other
academic department has been taken the
gown is made of silk and the sleeves are
long and closed. The doctor also wears a
silk gown, but in his case the sleeves are
made round and open, and he is entitled TO
have .facings of black velvet down the front
The use of colored velvet for these facings
and cross-bars instead of black is permitted,
In which case the color Of the velvet is gov
erned by the trimming of the hood.
The doctors gown shows greater fullness
and is generally made of heavy silk. In
some universities the>members of the cor
poration or governing board are entitled TO
wear the Doctors gown during their term
of office, as this costume signifies the high
est rank In the matter of gowns.
While the resemblance of one form of
gown to another is quite apparent, the same
cannot be said of the hoods, as there are TO
be found differences in color and pattern
quite as marked as in the case of the Shout
der straps and other designating marks of
a military officer. 1t was in this respect
important, as previously those universities
using the hood had. colors and designs of
their own which differed widely in the diff
ferent institutions. 1t was the wish of the
delegates, among whom were representa-
tives OF Yale, Princeton and Columbia, to
devise such a system as would make it pos
1hl m fa1l fha 6n0rna n Y N IN
gether with his alma mater. The result was
a simple set Of rules which have been
adopted at a numbe Of American colleges.
First as to the length and style of the
hood: For the bachelors degree 1t is three
feet In length, made OF black cloth, lined
tin o SIX Kei Inf ed aSs WITH with a band Sas OF Q s SaGa sa a.
silk, four feet In length. with a silk lining,
but with a broader, edging than the bach
sior; This edging: by the way. forms the
and holds the hood in position. The doctors
hood Is the same length as the masters.
ton panels at the back which are lined with
silk and edged with velvet. The most i'm
rortant thing. OF course. is the color of the
edging Of these hoods. The university or
college from which the degree is received
is shown by the color of the lining; the
color or colors belonging to the institution
being selected. The faculty under which the
degree has been taken is denoted by the
color OF tn edging. and for this purpose the
III All COlOlS are uSeQ. ATlS ana letters,
white; science, Yellow, philosophy, dark
blue; medicine, green; theology. red; law,
purple; fine arts. brown; music, pink. 1t
will be readily seen from this the striking
combinations Of colors that can be evolved
and the picturesquness of a modern COM
mencement procession appreciated.
In a few American universities and semi
naries the English custom of wearing scar
let robes on ceremonial occasions has been
followed by some of the professors, but the
custom has never become general, and the
possessors of such costumes have often at
tracted no little attention when visiting in
land or distant colleges. In connection with
the matter of scarlet robes, the story is told
OF a centennial celebration at an Irish uni.
versity which was largely attended by rep
resentatives from foreign institutions. The
appearance of those wearing the scarlet
robes and hoods was not particularly pleas
ing TO the populace, but the representative
or an American medical school, I'm whose
costume green played an important part,
appealed most strongly to the public fancy.
and was followed from his hotel to the uni
versity by admiring small boys.
The cap worn with the American academic
and the only difference in the various de.
grees is that the doctor may nave the tas-
sci and button of gold thread. With the
great diversity of colors that are associated
with our American colleges, one can an
preciate how varied the hoods of any one
faculty would appear with each professor
wearing the colors of his own college. VET
at the same time the uniformity of prac,
tice makes Ii possible to tel! the academic
honors that each has received.