This Doctor of Law gown which used to belong to Mikhail Sholokhov is black and has buttons covered with red fabric. This traditional ceremonial clothing was produced in Scotland in 1962.
The history of academic dress, including the special gowns of professors and graduates, can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Europe’s oldest universities originated from religious educational institutions, which is why the modern gown has preserved some traits of monk clothes. Originally, such clothing was worn every day. However, over time it transformed into the attribute of special events and ceremonies. The doctoral gown was usually accompanied by a headpiece — a bonnet or an academic cap — and a hood for scholars with academic degrees.
The University of St Andrews is the oldest university in Scotland. It was founded in 1410. Until the early 20th century, the university only taught the classical humanities: philosophy, theology, Ancient Greek, and Latin. Over the last century, it has also introduced exact sciences, medicine, art, and other subjects.
It was there that Mikhail Sholokhov was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Law in an official ceremony on April 13, 1962. The event coincided with the 550th anniversary of the University of St Andrews. The Soviet writer was nominated for this academic rank by Charles Percy Snow, an English novelist and the rector of the University of St Andrews.
The writer came to Scotland accompanied by his wife Maria Petrovna, daughter Svetlana, and son Aleksandr. At the ceremony, Mikhail Sholokhov was introduced as the greatest Russian writer of the post-war period. After that, the writer was announced as a Doctor of Law and was robed in an academic gown and a cap. In his speech, the rector of the university Charles Percy Snow emphasized that Sholokhov was the first Russian writer to take an academic degree in law at a British university in the 20th century. Before him, the writer Ivan Turgenev was awarded the title of Doctor of Law at the University of Oxford in 1879.
The history of academic dress, including the special gowns of professors and graduates, can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Europe’s oldest universities originated from religious educational institutions, which is why the modern gown has preserved some traits of monk clothes. Originally, such clothing was worn every day. However, over time it transformed into the attribute of special events and ceremonies. The doctoral gown was usually accompanied by a headpiece — a bonnet or an academic cap — and a hood for scholars with academic degrees.
The University of St Andrews is the oldest university in Scotland. It was founded in 1410. Until the early 20th century, the university only taught the classical humanities: philosophy, theology, Ancient Greek, and Latin. Over the last century, it has also introduced exact sciences, medicine, art, and other subjects.
It was there that Mikhail Sholokhov was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Law in an official ceremony on April 13, 1962. The event coincided with the 550th anniversary of the University of St Andrews. The Soviet writer was nominated for this academic rank by Charles Percy Snow, an English novelist and the rector of the University of St Andrews.
The writer came to Scotland accompanied by his wife Maria Petrovna, daughter Svetlana, and son Aleksandr. At the ceremony, Mikhail Sholokhov was introduced as the greatest Russian writer of the post-war period. After that, the writer was announced as a Doctor of Law and was robed in an academic gown and a cap. In his speech, the rector of the university Charles Percy Snow emphasized that Sholokhov was the first Russian writer to take an academic degree in law at a British university in the 20th century. Before him, the writer Ivan Turgenev was awarded the title of Doctor of Law at the University of Oxford in 1879.
