I have a question that maybe someone here can answer. I do not expect to need to wear them but how do you put together a set of doctoral robes if your schools is closing/ed. I never went to graduation. I know the school colors part but what about the rest. Do I chose a black robe and then as my major was Christian Counseling the colors for counseling as the colors for the velvet stripes, etc?? Thanks. North
I think the degree velvet for a Doctor of Ministry is red (or you could also go plain black). So yes, you could have a black robe with red velvet doctorate stripes and red velvet down the front of the breast, and if you want to have some fancy little gold piping around the velvet, I believe that would be fine also. Actually, that would be a really snazzy gown. Then just buy a black or red tam, and you'll be almost all set. But the rub is in the hood. How are you going to duplicate that? All schools, even those that don't have custom regalia, do have special chevrons or other symbols of certain colors and patterns for the doctorate hoods. Maybe you could check around at E.R. Moore or Oak Hall and find out if they ever produced hoods for this school. if so, surely they can knock off another. otherwise, you'll have to find out what pattern they went with and have someone custom make one. That's my best guess. if the real regalia experts on this forum (and that doesn't include me) have any corrections to make here, if I'm partly in error or utterly off track, please speak up before I hopelessly mislead our colleague North.
I don't think you necessarily have to choose a black robe. I used to wear a robe and chose black because it was the least expensive.
Possible Advisor for Doctoral Robes While I can't offer any advice, I know of someone who certainly knows a thing or two about robes ... doctoral, ecclesiastic or otherwise. http://www.education-1.net/chancellor.htm
Always FUNNY! The ITU website, and Cheif SEJ, always, ALWAYS makes me laugh. Just when I thought I've seen the whole page some detail that I missed previously jumps out and I start smiling like a big dope. Cosmonaughts, curtain rods, claims of Russian nobility-this site has it ALL! Thank you, Alexander Swift Eagle Justice, for bringing levity (however unintentionally) and for just being yourself.
Dear North, I'm not an expert on American regalia, but I know there are certain guidelines - the AIC (American INtercollegiate Code). There is a standard doctoral gown, in black, which can be worn by any doctor. The velvet may alternatively be in the appropriate faculty colour - red for ministry, theology, divinity etc, afair. I don't think it is correct to use a gown of any other colour unless your university has chosen a particular pattern / colour. The hood would be a black doctoral shaped hood, bound in red velvet, and lined in the school colours - this could be trickier to find out - I would suggest contacting ER Moore, or one of the other major suppliers. If you're interested, there is an Academic Dress e-group that has a couple of American members that might be able to point you in the right direction: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/academic_dress/ HTH, P
Re: Possible Advisor for Doctoral Robes Wow, ecclesiastical narcissism taken to new heights (not that I'm being judgmental, of course -- but sometimes it gets to the point where it is beyond silly).
40 years on, getting weirder and weirder... Also, at one time there was a very fine Canadian company named Dominion Regalia which made inter alia custom academic hoods and was very careful about the exact specs. They made a bachelor's hood (!) for me in the exact colours of my undergrad school and in those appropriate to my major. When I was much younger and even sillier, I used to get a kick out of wearing the fool thing because nobody else had one. I quit when I was told that I couldn't actually put the hood part over my head during services any more. That pretty much took the fun out of it.
You are witty tonight Uncle. Indeed, maybe the Rev Prof Dr. Chief Swift Eagle Justice, Cosmonaut. Professor, Academician, Prince of the Russian Royal Family, Bishop, Yada...Yada would lend me his curtain rod and some of his old robes. Surely he has extras and I could get them redone in school colors etc. The curtain rod would make an emaciated Mace. Hey....now I am have visions for my own seminary. Chief could accredit me and.....maybe honors grads could become Princes. On a more serious note, thanks for suggestions. There were a couple of good ones. North
Re: 40 years on, getting weirder and weirder... Always wondered why you often refer to yourself as "The Mad Priest." Now I know. Seriously, when I wore a robe my hood was ruined after I had it dry cleaned. I could never get it to look right again after that.
Hi, North: The major robemakers in the US--E. R. Moore, Oak Hall, Herff Jones--have databases of hood linings for virtually all schools that have chosen one. The databases would almost certainly contain defunct schools as well. Call around. If you find the one that had been contracted to your school, they should be able to make the hood for you with no problem. You might try Jostens and Wilsey as well if the Big Three don't pan out. Good luck, marilynd
academic regalia There are twelve robe makers in the United States listed by the Burgon Society. http://www.burgon.org.uk/design/makers/usa.html There may be two or three companies not listed. If I find them I will be glad to post them. Then again, those two or three may be outside the USA. All schools are listed with one company or the other and if a person could find the one for your school, the compnay will have a record of the discription and colours of the various robes. One of these companies (forget which one) still list Columbia Pacific University. RXI
