Academic Regailia Question

[Riverkilt]

Well, you're right about this board. I sold academic regalia for E.R. Moore back in the 1970s for about six years. Went to lots of college graduations and sold faculty regalia.

But never had that come up. Rooted through the "Royal Macdonald Library" and found that Academic Heraldry in America by Kevin Sheard, Northern Michigan College Press 1962 advises, "The unofficial practice of splitting the trimming to show two different faculties on one hood has always been frowned on, but in the report of the committe of 1959 [The 1959 Committee of the American Council on Education] it was definitely condemned. It may now be said that it is contrary to the code."

No clue if the committee has met since and changed any rules.

In 1966 E.R. Moore published a booklet to help those organizing commencements titled Caps, Gowns, and Commencements. Under the chapter "Current Correct usage of Academic Costumes they say, "If more than one degree is held, the gown and hood of the highest degree, naturally, are worn. The doctor's gown and hood may have the velvet trimming divided to indicate two degrees, though usually the highest degree taken is the one indicated by the color of the velvet."

So, there you go, two different opinions, both over 40 years old.

A couple ideas I have. If you're going to be purchasing your own doctoral regalia (like if you're faculty and going to march often) you can choose to order the velvet trim on your doctoral robe in the light blue of your education doctorate. A striking look for sure.

I am guessing your university will present you with a doctoral hood with the light blue trim and university colors in the lining. Enjoy that day.

The following day, wear your doctoral robe (personal or rented) since you've earned it. The university will award you your hood for your theology masters with scarlet velvet trim and the university colors in the lining. It may look "different" to wear a doctoral gown to receive a master's hood, but academic regalia is deeply based on heraldry and you're entitled to wear the doctoral gown.

May be my besotted memory, but I believe I've seen graduates who have a doctoral degree wear their doctoral gown and hood to the ceremony and be presented with a second hood atop the one they've already earned and wind up with two hoods. But no clue if that's my imagination or "proper." I like it though.

Another touch to consider, depending on what the regalia supplier has or charges you.

As a doctor you're entitled to wear a black doctoral tassel, a metallic gold doctoral tassel, or a tassel in the color of your degree - in your case light blue for education.

I don't see any reason that you couldn't wear a scarlet tassel with your doctoral bonnet/cap [Do get/wear one of those if you can. They are soooo beautiful, much nicer than the mortarboard and certainly a badge of achievement]. But maybe to avoid the "regalia police" (every university has at least one nutso) you might wanna wear both the light blue eduation tassel AND the scarlet theology tassel lest someone think you have a doctorate in theology. If your doctoral robe has the light blue velvet trim for education there's no mistake though. Confusing if its just routine black velvet trim.

Bottom line, once you've earned the right to wear a doctoral robe don't go back to the master's. That's the key. Stay robed for your highest degree. Whatever else you decide on folks will know its a doctor receiving the "other" degree.

And a hearty congratulations.

A big life change. I remember a trusted friend asking me "What are you gonna do now that you've graduated...no more projects..." Freaked me out at first, but there are plenty of projects waiting in the world.

Another cool thing you can do if you're artsy is go to a hobby supply place and buy some wooden shield shaped plaques. Then paint them up as replicas of your degree hoods. University colors in the middle, wide lining for your doctorate, medium lining for your two master's. Hang them on your wall. Academic heraldry can be fun.

And, hate to cut into your kilt money, but if you're gonna be wearing your academic regalia again as faculty etc. do yourself the favor of buying your own gown and doctoral cap.

Ron