Just over a year ago we held our third North American Colloquium, at Yale. We have two online talks soon, Expanding the Scope of Academic Dress Studies (August 20th) and Academic Evolution and the Sociology of Academic Dress (August 27th). Both are free. Details at burgon.org.uk/events

The Burgon Society warmly congratulates Dr Graeme Brown on the Doctor of Laws by research, from the University of Aberdeen on 1 July. The LLD is a higher doctorate for a substantial body of original research, rather than as an honorary degree. @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social www.abdn.ac.uk/news/25855/

We have some exciting upcoming events, starting with free online talks. August 20: Expanding the Scope of Academical Dress Studies, on Zoom August 27: Academic Evolution and the Sociology of Academic Dress, on Zoom October 10: Congregation, at St Mary’s University, Twickenham burgon.org.uk/events

The BA hood of the University of Liverpool combines white fur or wool lined with pink silk shot with ivory, described as apple blossom, fashionable in the 1900s. The shape of Bachelors’ hoods was the Edinburgh simple shape. Read more about it at burgon.org.uk/hood-of-month @livunipress.bsky.social

In honour of the new World Cup champions, here’s a Spanish sash for a first-degree graduate in law at the University of Salamanca. Red represents law. Find out more in this article from Transactions of the Burgon Society: journals.newprairiepress.org/burgonsociet... @usaloficial.bsky.social

At our Spring Conference we had a variety of University of Wales hoods on display. It was a great opportunity to see and handle shot silks in real life. Look at that shimmer! @uniwalespress.bsky.social

Colourful academic dress on display when the University of East Anglia celebrated Festal Evensong at Norwich Cathedral on Sunday. Not to mention elegant civic costume and fine clerical wear. And a dragon. @norwichcathedral.bsky.social cathedral.org.uk/news/city-se...

At Princeton’s commencement, an usher wears a bachelor’s gown with the yoke edged in orange, the university’s colour. @princeton.edu In the background you can just make out a marshal in the Princeton orange gown.

With all the commencement ceremonies, we’re a bit behind. Here’s our Hood of the Month, the DLitt for Richmond American University London. An American-style hood approved for a degree awarded in the UK. Read more here burgon.org.uk/hood-of-month

How many gowns can you name before hearing the answers? You’ll have to surf over to FB, but here’s a fun reel showing faculty at the Univ. of Kansas identifying their academic dress. www.facebook.com/reel/4426363... @notredame.bsky.social @unibirmingham.bsky.social @columbiauniversity.bsky.social

Spring brings new graduates and their celebratory photos. We’ll be posting some of our favourites. We start with Columbia University’s Shudufhadzo Musida, from Ha-Masia, South Africa, a Master in International Affairs candidate who poses in the library in her gown and shades. Full link in Alt Text.

Here’s a better view of our twenty-fifth anniversary cake. How many hoods can you name? (Freebie is the Burgon Society Fellow’s hood.)

Cheers to our 25th anniversary! After a day of presentations and study, the Burgon Society celebrated with a Champagne toast and cake in Priors’ Hall, part of the Durham Cathedral complex. Here’s to the next twenty-five years! Care to join us? burgon.org.uk/join-us

The April hood of the month [a bit late!], a PhD for the University of Erlangen. The black, white and red tri-chevron denotes the Imperial German flag in use until 1918. You can find more historical information about this hood on our website burgon.org.uk/hood-of-month

Join our 25th Spring Conference at Prior’s Hall, Durham Cathedral, on Saturday. The anniversary gathering features: Tour of Durham Cathedral Admission of a new Fellow Presentations on academic dress View Durham gowns and meet members over lunch, tea, and a champagne reception. burgon.org.uk/events

Hood watchers will be intrigued by the College of William & Mary’s doctor of arts hood. Unusually for a US hood, three colours of silk (well, satin) line the cowl: green, silver, and gold. The cowl is faced with white velvet, for arts. Read more at: burgon.org.uk/hood-of-month

Take your pick from this trio. We nominate the Czech rector, second from right.

The latest issue of Burgon Notes is out. The spring number includes a description of endemic silk linings on hoods, updates on our article downloads, and upcoming events. Keep in the know with a Society membership. burgon.org.uk/join-us

Book your space for the Burgon Society’s 25th Anniversary Spring Conference and AGM. On Saturday 25th April we meet at Durham Cathedral for a programme including a cathedral tour and presentations on academic dress. Enjoy lunch, tea, and a celebratory champagne reception. burgon.org.uk/events

Happy Christmas to all! A ceremony at Queen’s College, Oxford, from a postcard by Gillette, published by Raphael Tuck & Sons, London, c. 1909.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight— “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

Created after the Second World War, the University of Sussex reimagined of some of the oldest elements of academic costume. Andrew Plant explains how its eccentricity attracted opprobrium, speculation, bewilderment, and several urban myths. newprairiepress.org/burgonsociet...

Our hood of the month, the beautiful Cambridge Bachelor of Music. Historical details are at burgon.org.uk/hood-of-month ‘For once, Charles Franklyn’s immortal phrase may be confidently applied, since few would contest that this hood really is one of the most beautiful and dignified in the world’.

Father Goff’s article covers a lot ground. The Burgon Society festal hood permits fur, doesn’t require it. The two Burgon festal hoods to our knowledge lined with real fur are one with fur re-purposed from an old hood, and one with possum fur—an invasive species in New Zealand, the wearer’s home.

When it came to creating our own hood, what should it look like? The [s2] for Congregation was straightforward, but the festal [f7] had a more dramatic inception. Both would be approved for Fellows of the Burgon Society. Philip Goff recounts how they came to be. newprairiepress.org/burgonsociet...

Peter A. Thompson’s article on wearing academic hoods ‘in quire’ uses as a foundation the portrait collection of the archbishops of Armagh, evidence of past practice and evolving custom. Which hoods were worn when? Should a hood should be worn with the chimere? newprairiepress.org/burgonsociet...

The question of hood etiquette in choirs has always been something of a contentious one. Regardless of what the Canons say, tradition and opinion still seem to win out in most cases. Samuel Teague’s article on hoods in Oxford collegiate choirs is now available: newprairiepress.org/burgonsociet...

Philip Goff, a founding Fellow of the Burgon Society, was honored by the University of London on its Founding Day and visited with the university’s Chancellor, The Princess Royal.

Undergraduates in cap and gown are a rare sight today. Yet in the UK, over 30 universities prescribe it for students. Find out more in Edward Teather’s article on The History of Undergraduate Academical Dress in Britain’s Modern Universities since 1880, now at newprairiepress.org/burgonsociet...