Undergraduate gowns in Scotland

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Gowned St Andrews undergraduates on the town pier.
Gowned St Andrews undergraduates on the town pier.

Undergraduate gowns are a notable feature of academic dress for students at the ancient universities in Scotland.

The most famous form of Scottish undergraduate dress is the red or scarlet gown. It is differenced slightly according to the university at which it is worn. These gowns are worn by students of the Universities of Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and St Andrews (United College only).

Contents

[edit] The red gown

[edit] History

It is likely that pre-Reformation undergraduates would have worn a black supertunica in common with students at all European universities of the time. By the latter part of James VI's reign, this had formalised into scarlet. Traditionally, the red colour was symbolic of a lower status, and was particularly visible. Popular legend at the universities in question often explains this in terms of discipline: the visible identification with the university being a deterrent to entering local brothels and taverns[1]

In his work, A tour thro' the Whole Island of Great Britain, Daniel Defoe notes the presence of the gowns at the Universities of Glasgow and St Andrews in the early 18th century, but also their absence at Edinburgh.

In reference to the University of Glasgow:

"Here is a principal, with regents and professors in every science, as there is at Edinburgh, and the scholars wear gowns, which they do not at Edinburgh. Their gowns here are red, but the Masters of Arts, and professors, wear black gowns, with a large cape of velvet to distinguish them."[2]

In reference to the University of St Andrews:

"the students wear gowns here of a scarlet-like colour, but not in grain, and are very numerous" [3]

At the University of Aberdeen, the gown (or toga rubra) has had varied fortunes over the years. During one of the slumps in its use in 1885 it was noted that fewer than one-quarter of students wore it and that its wear was largely restricted to arts students at King's College. Regulations existed compelling gown-wearing amongst students, although were rarely enforced. In 1888, a plebcite was organised at King's by the Students' Representative Council, which continued to support compulsion by 258 votes to 32, and was recognised by the University's Senate. [4] This was to little avail, with the gown still not becoming universal as it had been previously, and remaining subject to fashion. In the 1850s, Sir George Reid painted an image of an Aberdeen student in the gown, entitled "Salve Toga Rubra".[5]

The toga was criticised as being unsuited to the climate of Aberdeen. When worn, it was considered proper amongst the students to be old and worn. A tradition of 'gown-tearing' by older students to new 'bajans' (first years) therefore developed.[6] Opposition to the gown was also evident, during a 1922 attempt to build 'Varsity Spirit', an anti-gown group was formed to protest at its restoration to prominence. In 1924, their views were aired in the university newspaper, stating:

"when we leave the gates of King's we become citizens of Aberdeen in this year of grace 1924, and we ought to dress as such. We ought to do nothing which might serve to separate or to alienate us from the general body the citizens'[7]

[edit] Use

The undergraduate gown has lost popularity at different times in the different universities. The requirements of town residence made it impractical, however the more isolated locations of Aberdeen and St Andrews (and by extension, Dundee) ensured a longer heritage.

At present, the gowns are most commonly a feature associated with the University of St Andrews. They are only very rarely found in everyday usage at the other institutions, although are still occasionally seen worn by debaters, societies, student representatives, choirs and attendees at formal events and chapel services. It is perhaps most commonly seen at academic ceremonies, particularly in relation to the installation of a new Rector.

The undergraduate style influences several gowns of office, particularly for members of Students' Representative Councils and Rectors.

[edit] Appearance

University of Dundee gown on a hanger, obverse and reverse shown
University of Dundee gown on a hanger, obverse and reverse shown

[edit] Colour

The colour of gowns is rarely defined precisely, however the University of Dundee and the University of St Andrews set the correct colour as "Union Jack red"[8] (BCC210).

[edit] Differencing

There are several differences between the gowns at the various universities, including:

  • Aberdeen - The gown is shorter than others and is often referred to as a 'toga'.
  • Dundee - The yoke and collar of the gown is "Stewart blue".
  • Edinburgh - The gown is entirely scarlet.
  • Glasgow - Permits a "narrow band of silk on the breast of each side of the gown of the colour of the hood-lining proper to the lowest degree in the Faculty" to adorn the gown.[9]
  • St Andrews - the gown has a maroon yoke and collar.
The various colleges of St Andrews wear differing gowns; the distinction between United College and Queen's College existed even before the latter became independent as the University of Dundee. Today, the students of St Mary's College wear a simple black gown. The members of the non-statutory St Leonard's College are not entitled to wear the red gown as the college has no undergraduates amongst its number.

[edit] Gowns of office

Many universities also have gowns of office for their student representatives. These are often variants inspired by the red gown, often differenced by facings.

The Glasgow University Students' Representative Council executive uses wholly purple gowns. Full listings of gowns worn by the University of St Andrews Students' Association are available at the Academic dress of the University of St Andrews entry.

[edit] Other undergraduate gowns

  • St Mary's College at the University of St Andrews (in effect, the faculty of divinity) uses plain black gowns for its undergraduates. The gown is described as being made of black stuff, knee length with short open sleeves and with a violet cross of St Andrew on the left facing. The colour of the cross corresponds to the material used for hoods in the Faculty of Divinity. Black lined with violet (MTheol) and Violet with the cowl and apron edged with white fur (BD).

[edit] See also

[edit] External links


[edit] Notes

  1. ^ St. Andrews University - Review - Fantastic four years - rewritten
  2. ^ Vision of Britain | Daniel Defoe | Letter 12, Part 2: Glasgow and central Scotland
  3. ^ Vision of Britain | Daniel Defoe | Letter 13, Part 1: Fife and Perth
  4. ^ R.D. Anderson, The Student Community at Aberdeen 1860-1939(Aberdeen University Press, 1988), pp.47-48
  5. ^ http://www.abdn.ac.uk/virtualmuseum/pictures_show2.php?prefix=ABDUA&num=30706&firstview=true&mt=not&sign=&viewnumber=&resultsperpage=18&termscount=1&listofterms[0]=
  6. ^ R.D. Anderson, op. cit., p.13
  7. ^ R.D. Anderson, op. cit., p.89
  8. ^ University of Dundee: Electronic Calendar
  9. ^ http://senate.gla.ac.uk/calendar/cal2005/01-intro.pdf