Last week, I posted the oldest faculty photo in the collection. Today, I'm posting the newest one. This photo was taken by college photographer extraordinare Mark Olencki '75 before opening convocation on Thursday, Sept. 10.
I haven't been able to determine exactly when our faculty began to wear academic regalia, but I think it was in the 1920s. I've seen photos of Commencement in the 1930s where the faculty are in caps and gowns, and I've seen references in President Henry N. Snyder's correspondence to graduates who were receiving master's degrees that they needed to obtain a proper gown.
Many people ask about the varying types of gown and the meaning of the hoods. The hood is the multi-colored piece of cloth that is worn over the shoulders, for those of you who don't know what it's called. The hood's trim and lining are a code - they will tell the observer where the wearer got his or her degree, whether it was a master's or doctoral degree, and in what field the degree was awarded. In this picture, you see a lot of deep blue - that's the color for the PhD - the degree awarded for original research in the arts and sciences. You may see some white - the color for some doctoral degrees in the humanities and for the master of arts - and you'll see some golden yellow - the color for some PhD degrees awarded in the natural sciences and for the degree of master of science (Master's hoods are thinner). Several of the librarians wear hoods with yellow trim for the master of library and information science degree. Degree holders in education are light blue, in theology are scarlet, and law are purple. Some business degree hoods are copper, fine arts are brown, music is a shade of pink. Traditionally, gowns are black, but many universities have adopted official gowns in their school colors, so you can see President Dunlap's Harvard crimson gown on the front row.
this is a very nice picture and a big community.Congrulations!
http://www.girisimciyim.org
Posted by: bayilik | October 08, 2009 at 08:19 AM