The Burgon Society
We are a learned society for study of academic dress and regalia - design, history and practice around the world.
Founded in 2000, we hold regular meetings comprising a lively mixture of social interaction and scholarship. The peer-reviewed journal, Transactions of the Burgon Society, publishes many papers arising from the Society's research, and is supplemented by the newsletter, Burgon Notes.
Latest News
Getting into Academic Dress - Online Tutorials
Posted: 29th November 2024
For those curious to know more about the basics of academic dress or simply to have a refresher, do sign up for a new series of three online tutorials to be presented early in the New Year by Dr Alex Kerr FBS.
Burgon Society Congregation
Posted: 5th August 2024
The 2024 Congregation will take place on Saturday 5th October at the York Medical Society in York.
Hood of the Month
BA (defunct), University of Sussex
The University of Sussex opened in 1961, and first appointed Norman Hargreaves-Mawdsley to design its academic dress scheme. His creations drew heavily on heraldic colours and furs in a piquant contrast to the modernity of the new foundation. The BA hood in its own special shape [s8] of black cloth lined with light grey fur squares appears to have originated from the colours of miniver. Its proposed companion, a BSc utilising tawny fur, was never made. Unfortunately for the integrity of Hargreaves-Mawdsley's scheme, much was rejected by the University in the early stages, meaning that the BA hood lingered on for many years when all reasoning for its infamous design had been largely forgotten. While never popular, it was easily the most recognisable of all academic hoods. In 2003, the BA degree was allocated anew (though short-lived) design, at which point the original grey squares were relegated to validated degrees. Continuing alterations to the scheme resulted in their final disappearance in 2010.
Andrew Plant FBS
Photograph by Chris Williams FBS courtesy of the Burgon Society Archive.
Join Us
Membership of the Society is open to anyone who is interested in academic dress. The annual subscription entitles Members and Fellows to a free copy of our annual peer-reviewed journal Transactions of the Burgon Society on publication, as well as our quarterly newsletter Burgon Notes. Members enjoy discounts on purchases from the Society’s shop, including tickets for events, and may apply for Fellowship of the Society by examination.