Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

DOCTORAL ROBES

Date

1953

Materials

SILK, SATIN

No. Pieces

1

Length

151.5

Width

156

Description

BLACK SILK DOCTORAL ROBE IS OPEN DOWN THE CENTER. A WIDE SEAM RUNS THE LENGTH OF THE ROBE AND THE REST OF THE MATERIAL IN THE FRONT GETS WIDER TOWARDS THE FLOOR. THE SLEEVE IS VERY WIDE AND TIGHTLY GATHERED ON THE BACK OF THE SHOULDER. THE SLEEVE FALLS TO ABOUT THE WRIST ON THE TOP OF THE ARM, AND PAST THE KNEES ON THE UNDERSIDE. IS LINED WITH PALE BLUE SATIN WHICH IS TURNED UP TO FORM A CUFF ON THE SHORTEST PART OF THE SLEEVE. THE FOLDED CORNER IS DIVIDED IN TO FOUR SECTIONS. THE MIDDLE TWO ARE FOLDED UP A CUMBERBUND, AND THE OUTER TWO ARE PLEATED. THERE ARE THREE VERTICAL STRIPS OF MATERIAL THAT HAVE SATIN BUTTONS ON THE TOP. ON THE TOP OF THE ROBE IS A METAL HOOK AND EYE, AND ON THE OUTSIDE OF THIS, ARE TWO BLACK SILK BUTTONS THAT HAVE PALE BLUE SATIN LANYARDS. THEY ARE TWISTED, AND THEN HAVE LARGE TASSELS AT THE END THAT HAVE BRAIDED SUPPORT WOUND AROUND THE TOP, AND CRIMPED STRANDS OF SATIN HANGING BELOW. THE BACK OF THE ROBE HAS A ROUND NECK WHICH HAS A FLAT SIMPLE YOKE, UNDERNEATH THIS THE SEAM IS TIGHTLY GATHERED, AND THE ROBE FALLS TO THE FLOOR. THE HOOD BEGINS AT THE FRONT OF THE SHOULDER, AND FALLS OVER THE SHOULDERS TO THE BACK OF THE LEGS. THE HOOD IS LINED WITH BLUE SATIN AND HAS TWO SECTIONS OF FOLDS, AND OVER THE SHOULDERS IT FALLS IN PLEATS. THE HOOD IS TRIMMED WITH A FAKE CREAM COLOURED FUR THAT HAS SECTIONS OF YELLOW AND BROWN FUR. THE OUTSIDE OF THE HOOD IS BLACK SILK. THE INSIDE OF THE ROBE HAS TWO TIES THAT FALL FROM THE NECK DOWN TO THE LEGS. INSIDE THE BACK IS EMBROIDERED IN YELLOW "MME DR. ISABEL LANDELS WILKINS" ON A BLACK SILK TAG WHICH IS STITCHED ON IN WHITE CHEVRON STITCHING. BELOW ANOTHER TAG IN SILVER STITCHING READS "COMPAGNIE PAQUET LIMITEE QUEBEC". SOME THREADS ARE LOOSE. THERE ARE SOME STAINS ON THE SATIN AND MINOR RUNS IN THE SILK.

Subjects

CLOTHING-OUTERWEAR

Historical Association

EDUCATION

History

ROBE WAS HANDMADE BY NUNS AT THE SEMINARY IN QUEBEC CITY. THE ROBE IS IN THE FRENCH TRADITION WITH THE LONG HOOD HANGING DOWN THE BACK AND TRIMMED WITH ARTIFICIAL FUR. THE USUAL ONES CONFERRED BY CANADIAN UNIVERSITIES HAVE MUCH SHORTER HOODS AT SHOULDER LENGTH. THIS ROBE IS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF LAVAL, AND PRODUCTION BEGAN WHEN DONOR DR. ISABEL WILKINS WENT TO FRANCE IN 1953. SHE STOPPED IN QUEBEC CITY TO VISIT WITH FRIENDS AND HAVE HER MEASUREMENTS TAKEN ON THE WAY THERE, AND THREE MONTHS LATER ON HER WAY HOME SHE STOPPED AND PICKED UP THE ROBES, HER HUSBAND PAID FOR THEM FOR HER. FOR A PERSONAL HISTORY OF THE DONOR, SEE P19940021001-GA. SEE ATTACHED PHOTO OF DONOR WEARING DOCTORAL ROBES.

Catalogue Number

P19940021004

Acquisition Date

1994-06

Collection

Museum

Less detail