Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-04-08
Caps and Gowns Are an
Outgrowth Of a Medieval
Ceremony Now General

(From the University Daily Kansas)
Within recent years the custom of
wearing caps and gowns at COM
mencement exercises of the leading
American universities, or at any ada
demic function or ceremony, has been
definitely established.
Before studying the recently estab-
lished American code, or attempting
to unravel the mysteries of the Eng
lish hood. the evolution of the aca-
demic degree. gown and hood from
an early age to the present day must
be traced.
To do this we cross the channel and
visit the old cathedral schools which
were established in the Seventh Cen
fury and were the precursors of those
early universities founded in the
Twelfth Century to meet the increas-
ed demand for instruction in the high
er branches of knowledge.
In the early days of the University
of Paris, the chancellor of the cathe-
dral on the lie de la Cite issued the
licenses to teach, and when the stu
dent entered upon the performance
of his duties as a duly licensed teach
er, his emancipation from the bach
elorhood was symbolized by placing
on his head a cap or biretta, which
ceremony was performed by his for
mer instructor. The present day GUS
tom of giving a hood when an honor
ary degree is conferred, is, therefore,
but an outgrowth of this medieval
ceremony. 1t was but natural that
the early universities should preserve
as their academic dress an adaptlon
of the monks robe with it's cowl or
hood. Such gowns were at hrst
mark of profound learning, and were
worn by doctors of divinity and grad
yates, but later undergraduates were
entitled to wear them.
At oxford and Cambridge, where
the order Of things does not change
with each succeeding generation, the
same type of gown have been worn
since the beginning of the Seventh
Century.
In America it has long been GUS
tomary for eminent jurists, doctors
of divinity and presiding officers of
universities to wear black SILK ROBE
of ample dimensions. This movement,
which was indefinite, originated
among the students themselves, and
many of the graduating classes In
different universities and colleges
who elected, from time to time TO
wear caps and gowns at commence
ment exercises.
The faculties were quick 10 recoB-
nize the utilitarian advantage or
uniform dress, as well as the ADDED
dignity the black gowns gave to an
assemblage of students and encour-
aged the custom, which has spread
60 RAPIDLY. Until 1894 no definite
form or pattern of gown was adhered
to.
Tn that year an intercollegiate COM
mission was appointed to consider the
question of adopting a distinctive
academic costume for graduates OF
American universities and colleges,
and as a result of that commissions
work a simple system regulating the
shane of gowns and colors of hoods
was established. This code, which
has been adopted by the leading uni
versities and colleges OF the country,
proyides for three types of gowns.
Those worn by the bachelors are
made of black worsted cloth and have
a long pointed sleeve. Masters are
entitled to wear silk gowns made
with a long, closed sleeve, square at
the end with slit for the arm. the
doctors gowns are silk with tulL
round. open sleeve. These may be
faced with velvet, and have three
hars of velvet on the sleeve. The
color of such trimming must corre-
spond to the color which edges the
hood.
The evolution of the scholastic hood
from the monks cowl. we find, has
reached the highest point of develop
ment here in America. At the pres
ent day there can he no doubt that
the whole matter of academic dress
has passed an experimental stage and
now rests upon an intelligent and
permanent foundation.