cover image: Academic robe worn by Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole at Bennett College

20.500.12592/8487x0

Academic robe worn by Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole at Bennett College

2003

An academic robe in blue and gold from Bennett College worn by Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole with custom designs by Barbara Nicholson. The robe is made from a blue synthetic fabric with the hem and the central front opening trimmed in a wide blue, gold, and black woven striped tape. There are three (3) stripes of a black, gold, and blue woven tape with a scrollwork design on each sleeve. Adinkra symbols are hand painted in gold at the center front neck, on each cuff, and four (4) around the bottom. Excerpts from poems by Maya Angelou are also hand painted in gold around the bottom of the robe. The robe closes at the center front with a metal zipper trimmed with a gold tassel at the top and bottom of the zipper. The cuffs close with blue Velcro. A cowrie shell is hand sewn at the upper seam of the proper left cuff above the gold painted symbol. Two (2) additional cowrie shells are hand sewn along the center back pleat of the robe. A blue twisted cord extends from the center back neck and loops around a blue plastic button to secure an academic hood to the robe.
education design africans african americans african american fashion african diaspora fashion design clothing and dress hbcus (historically black colleges and universities) bennett college cole, johnnetta betsch nicholson, barbara

Authors

Barbara Nicholson, American, Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole, American, born 1936, Bennett College, American, founded 1873

Collection
National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection Clothing-Historical Cultural Expressions NMAAHC (1400 Constitution Ave NW), National Mall Location, Culture/Fourth Floor, 4 050
Dates
2003
Format
Synthetic fiber, cowrie shells, paint, metal zipper, tassels, and Velcro (TM)
Pages
H x W (flat): 56 1/2 × 39 1/2 in. (143.5 × 100.3 cm)
Place Discussed
United States of America Ghana
Provider
Smithsonian Institution
Published in
Ghana
Rights
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Johnnetta Betsch Cole
Source
Digital Public Library of America https://dp.la/item/b10aeb1ca487a27235cbdb292f2981a7

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