Academic robe, hood, and cap worn by Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole at Spelman College
date: label: Date
content: 1986 - 1987
name: label: Designed by
content: Olivia, American
label: Worn by
content: Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole, American, born 1936
label: Subject of
content: Spelman College, American, founded 1881
notes: label: Description
content: Academic regalia consisting of a robe (.1), a hood (.2), and a cap (.3) in blue and silver from Spelman College worn by Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole.
label: Description
content: .1: A blue academic robe with woven tape decorations. The robe is made from a blue polyester cotton blend fabric. Panels of blue woven tape with a cream design of zigzag lines is attached at the center opening of the front sides and around the neck. Three (3) thinner bands of blue woven tape with a cream design of stripes are attached on each sleeve. The robe closes at the center front with a blue metal zipper. There is one (1) black male snap at the center front approximately three inches below the neck opening for securing the hood (.2) to the robe. There are two (2) black eyes, one on each shoulder midway between the neck and sleeve seams, possibly for securing a stole or other regalia around the shoulders of the wearer. There are two (2) exterior inset pockets, one at each side waist, lined in blue synthetic fabric. The robe is self-lined and there is a designer label at the center back interior neck made from white fabric with black machine-embroidered text that reads: "Olivia / ORIGINAL".
label: Description
content: .2: A blue and white academic hood with woven tape decoration. One side of the hood is faced in blue synthetic fabric and trimmed with a band of blue woven tape with a cream design of zigzags. The other side is faced in white satin with a blue satin chevron stripe midway down the hood. There is one (1) female snap at the center front neck portion of the hood to secure it to the robe (.1). Two (2) black buttons connected by a twisted cord are sewn at the back opening area of the hood to ensure that the satin portion of the hood remains open and visible.
label: Description
content: .3: A soft blue academic cap. The hexagonal cap is made from a blue polyester cotton blend fabric. A gold metal tassel is looped around a gold bobble at the center top of the cap and tacked in place at the edge of the cap. A band of blue woven tape with a cream design of alternating stripes and diamonds is sewn around the opening on the bottom of the cap. This band is lined with black grosgrain ribbon. The cap is lined with the same blue fabric with a small amount of batting between the layers to create a padded shape. A designer label is sewn at the center interior of the cap made from white fabric with black machine-embroidered text that reads: "Olivia / ORIGINAL".
place: label: Place used
content: Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: African diaspora
label: Topic
content: Clothing and dress
label: Topic
content: Design
label: Topic
content: Education
label: Topic
content: Fashion design
label: Topic
content: HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Clothing - Fashion and Historical
label: Exhibition
content: Cultural Expressions
label: On View
content: NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 050
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Johnnetta Betsch Cole
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2015.209.1.1-.3
objectType: label: Type
content: caps (headgear)
label: Type
content: hoods (headgear)
label: Type
content: academic robes
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: No Known Copyright Restrictions
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: synthetic fiber, woven tape, metal closures, and tassels
label: Dimensions
content: H x W (.1 flat): 55 1/4 × 36 1/2 in. (140.3 × 92.7 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W (.2 flat): 45 1/2 × 25 1/2 in. (115.6 × 64.8 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D (.3): 5 1/2 × 11 1/4 × 10 3/4 in. (14 × 28.6 × 27.3 cm)