Robe and hood worn by Army Chaplain Louis J. Beasley
date: label: Date
content: mid 20th-late 20th Century
name: label: Manufactured by
content: Bentley and Simon, Inc., American
label: Manufactured by
content: C. M. Almy & Son, American, founded 1892
label: Worn by
content: Louis J. Beasley, American, 1907 - 2001
notes: label: Description
content: A robe (a) and hood (b) worn by Army Chaplain Louis J. Beasley. The robe (a) is made from a black synthetic fabric, with black velvet trim. The robe is ankle-length with full, bell sleeves and heavy pleating at the shoulders and along the back yoke. The robe has a hidden center closure. The robe closes with one (1) metal hook-and-eye closure at the neck, followed by eight (8) olive green buttons. The front seam is hidden under velvet panels that run the full length of the front of the robe and wrap around to make a velvet-trimmed collar. Each sleeve is decorated with three (3) black velvet, horizontal chevrons. At the right seam, there is one (1) 7-1/2 inch slit that opens to the interior of the robe. The interior of the robe is unlined, except for two (2) sweat guards that line each armhole.
label: Description
content: The decorative hood (b) is made from the same type of black synthetic fabric as the robe. The hood is designed to be worn at the wearer's neckline, fastened to a robe beneath, then cascading down the wearer's back. The hood is constructed with two (2) unlined tails, that, when worn, are concealed by the hood's lining. The hood is lined in a white synthetic fabric, followed by rows of black, white, and red, and finished by a wider band of blue. The entire interior edge of the hood is trimmed in red velvet. This same piece of red velvet wraps around to form a 4-1/2 inch panel underneath the lined portions of the hood and the collar, so that when the hood is worn, the red velvet panel is visible at the neckline. At the neckline of the hood, there is one (1) loop of black cord to secure the hood to the robe worn below. At the top of the lined portion of the hood are two (2) buttons that connect by a black cord, and when fastened they ensure that the lined portion of the hood remains open and visible.
place: label: Place made
content: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Clothing and dress
label: Topic
content: Men
label: Topic
content: Military
label: Topic
content: Religion
label: Topic
content: Segregation
label: Topic
content: Worship services
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Clothing - Military Uniforms
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of the Louis J. Beasley Family
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2013.205.5ab
objectType: 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 and velvet, with plastic buttons and metal closure
label: Dimensions
content: H x W ((a) Flat): 57 1/2 × 20 in. (146.1 × 50.8 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W ((b) Flat folded): 43 3/4 × 24 3/4 in. (111.1 × 62.9 cm)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W ((b) Flat open): 41 × 18 in. (104.1 × 45.7 cm)