On the Making of the American Doctoral Gown

Abstract

The US doctoral gown is an elegant piece of academical wear. Worn open or closed, the gown features velvet facings which begin at the centre of the yoke and continue to the hem. The gown has a distinctive feature—optional, but often used—in that the front panels continue round the neck as three pleats, meeting at the centre of the yoke behind a cord and button. The other distinctive feature of the American doctoral gown is the placing of three velvet bars (the colour of the velvet usually matching that of the facings) on each sleeve. The bars are placed horizontally on the sleeve, one above the other. The gown which features in this paper I made for a doctoral graduate—and friend—from Union Theological Seminary (hereinafter UTS) in New York City, The Revd Dr Nancy Duff, now a member of the Faculty at Princeton Theological Seminary, New Jersey. The pictures of Dr Duff wearing her gown are reproduced with her permission. The gown is a black coat with red yoke and sleeves, the gown faced from around the neck, and with sleeve bars of black velvet. [Excerpt].