History of Academic Regalia

Academic “costumes” date back to medieval English custom when kings’ courts were closely associated with Oxford University and where there was also a close connection with the church. The elaborate vestments identify the degrees, the disciplines and the levels of achievement of the wearer. In the United States, the Intercollegiate Commission sets the standards for academic costume in 1894.

For bachelor’s or master’s degrees, the color of the gown is black with no trim. The doctoral gown is faced down the front with black velvet with three bars of the same across the sleeves. The color code is the same for all degrees, however, the width of the hood edging, the hood length and the sleeve style vary. The doctor’s hood has edging five inches wide, a four-foot hood length and full round sleeves. The master’s hood edging is three inches wide, the hood is three-and-a-half feet long and the sleeves are full length square. The bachelor’s hood edging is two inches wide; the hood is three feet, with long, pointed sleeves. The colors of the satin lining of the hood indicate the particular college or university which awarded the degree. Tassels for caps for all degrees may be black except that for the doctoral degree gold is most often worn.

• Arts, Letters, Humanities, Sociology – White
• Business, Commerce, Accounting – Drab
• Education – Light Blue
• Fine Arts – Brown
• Health and Physical Science – Sage Green
• Law – Purple
• Library Science – Lemon
• Mathematics/Science – Golden Yellow
• Nursing – Apricot
• Philosophy – Dark Blue
• Social Science – Citron
• Theology – Scarlet

History of Lasell Banners

School banners are perhaps the most obvious exhibition of Lasell colors. Class banners vary greatly, with color, motto, and pattern chosen by each individual class.

These banners, exhibited prominently at commencement time, go back a long way in the school’s history. Charles Parker, even before he became the husband of Isabel Jennings (1885), and before he became architect of the Auburndale Congressional Church, made the class banners from 1854 (the first graduating class) and continued this task for more than 20 years.
Early banners were usually shields in red, white and blue with class mottos; later some were of silk and occasionally they were embroidered. Fortunately, many of these old banners have been preserved. They make a colorful and appealing display at graduation time, during reunions, and at special ceremonial events at the College.