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University of Cambridge @cam.ac.uk · 9d

Happy matriculation to all our new students 🌟

Matriculation is when students are formally admitted as members of the University.

Here are our new matriculants at @jesuscollegecam.bsky.social, wearing their formal gowns for the first time.

📸 Lloyd Mann

A group of students in gowns posing for their matriculation day photo at Jesus College, Cambridge.

A group of Jesus College students in academic robes in front of a brick building with ivy.

A closeup of some Jesus College students in academic robes, gathered for their matriculation day photo in front of a brick building with an arched entrance.

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Adrian Liston @labliston.bsky.social · 9d

Oriel College, Oxford

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Dr Mark Purcell @camlibresearch.bsky.social · 17d

A fine autumn morning in Cambridge.

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Andrea Cesari @oldbluedoor.bsky.social · 9d

What a great idea!

Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell @hottycouture.bsky.social · 9d

Every exhibition needs a touchable wall of fabrics like this one!

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The Burgon Society @burgonsociety.bsky.social · 10d

Quite the liripipe on his hood (left image); does that hood have ear holes too?

Tamsin Lewis @passamezzo.bsky.social · 10d

Today's marginal #musician is playing the #bagpipes.
From a #15thCentury history of #Troy.
Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana Pal.Lat.1962

#marginaliamonday #manuscriptmonday #illuminatedmanuscript #earlymusic

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German Historical Institute London @ghilondon.bsky.social · 10d

Call for applications! 📣

The German Historical Institute London is seeking a Research Associate with a particular research interest in medieval history (with a focus on late medieval English history) for a part-time project position to start on 1 February 2026. 🤝
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Markus W. Gehring @mwgehring.bsky.social · 10d

Warmest congratulations to the inspiring @wto.org Director General Dr @noiweala.bsky.social on her election as Honorary Fellow @lucycavcoll.bsky.social @cam.ac.uk. @demedglobal.bsky.social @cisdl.bsky.social

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The Burgon Society @burgonsociety.bsky.social · 10d

but true intelligence is to recognize an opportunity and have the courage to seize it.
You can watch the ceremony online here:
👉 youtube.com/live/uMnhYcj...
Warmest congratulations to Bruce on this fitting honour. 🎓✨

Tuesday 2nd September 2025, 14:45

YouTube video by Herts Graduation

youtube.com

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The Burgon Society @burgonsociety.bsky.social · 10d

The citation was a moving reminder of Bruce’s long and distinguished career as a computer scientist, academic, and teacher. His speech to graduating students struck just the right chord, reflecting on opportunity and forks in the road, that one never knows what’s around the corner …

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The Burgon Society @burgonsociety.bsky.social · 10d

It was awarded in recognition of Bruce’s service to the university, which includes his role, over three decades ago, in helping design the University’s academic dress. In a delightful full-circle moment, he is now entitled to wear the Fellows’ robe he helped create: grey [d4] faced purple and white.

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The Burgon Society @burgonsociety.bsky.social · 10d

Burgon founding Fellow and former Dean of Studies Prof. Bruce Christianson was invested as a Fellow of the University of Hertfordshire at St Albans Cathedral on 2 September 2025.
Heres a photo of Bruce receiving the Fellowship from the Pro Vice Chancellor, with a view of the University mace too.

Burgon founding Fellow and former Dean of Studies Prof. Bruce Christianson was invested as a Fellow of the University of Hertfordshire by the Pro Vice Chancellor at St Albans Cathedral on 2 September 2025.

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Dr Christina Faraday @cjfaraday.bsky.social · 13d

Cambridge's @caiuscollege.bsky.social, where I've been a Fellow for the last 5 years, have done a profile on my new book, with the photo I think of as my 'peak don' moment. (If you wonder what is my 'nadir don', it's watching Real Housewives on my exercise bike). www.cai.cam.ac.uk/news/touchin...

Touching the Tudor past

Dr Christina Faraday’s latest book, The Story of Tudor Art, tackles a well-known period of history from a fresh and eye-opening perspective. “The Tudors benefit and suffer from a sense of familiarity ...

www.cai.cam.ac.uk

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The Burgon Society @burgonsociety.bsky.social · 16d

There’s still time to book in for our annual Congregation on Saturday 11 October, in Charterhouse in London. Another reason to join us: Seats remain for the dinner on Saturday evening at the Café du Marché.
Need an even better reason? Wear your festal dress in the afternoon!
burgon.org.uk/events

A group of people meet in a courtyard of the Charterhouse in London.

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The Burgon Society @burgonsociety.bsky.social · Sep 6

We have a full line-up of ceremony and research presentations set for our 25th anniversary Congregation. Interested in learning about academic dress and how the Burgon Society promotes its discoveries? Join us at Charterhouse in London on 11 October. burgon.org.uk/latest-news/...

The programme of events for the Burgon Society's Congregation on 11 October in London.

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The Burgon Society @burgonsociety.bsky.social · Aug 26

Burgon Society Founding Fellow Bruce Christianson will become a Fellow of the Univ. of Hertfordshire on Sept. 2. The award, for ‘service to the university’, also honors his help designing its academic dress, entitling him to wear a robe of his own design. Watch live: www.herts.ac.uk/graduation/o...

The University of Hertfordshire Fellows’ robe is grey [d4] faced purple & white.

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The Burgon Society @burgonsociety.bsky.social · Aug 24

At the Yale Center for British Art during our Colloquium this month, the Society’s Chairman, Dr Andrew Hogg, poses with the ‘Reverend Dr. Charles Symmons’, 1794. Oddly, he wears a hood with his Oxford DD robes. Why? Find out in a future Burgon Notes.
collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/tms:...

The Burgon Society’s Chairman, Dr Andrew Hogg, poses with the ‘Reverend Dr. Charles Symmons’, painted in 1794 by Sir William Beechey, 1753–1839. Symmons wears a hood with his Oxford gown for the Doctor of Divinity.

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stevewolgast.bsky.social @stevewolgast.bsky.social · Aug 15

Exploring archives is like going into grandma’s attic: You never know what kind of treasures you’ll find. Even the ephemera can yield clues to the the question you’ve been pondering. Or maybe it poses a question that you’ll want to answer.

The Burgon Society @burgonsociety.bsky.social · Aug 15

From our North American colloquium, a little treasure in the Yale archives at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library: A pamphlet from the robemaker C. E. Ward of New London, Ohio. It’s a four-colour, die-cut item that unfolds to reveal its gowns, hoods and caps on offer. @yaleisp.bsky.social

A pamphlet from the robemaker C. E. Ward of New London, Ohio. A four-colour, die-cut item that unfolds to reveal its gowns, hoods and caps on offer.

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The Burgon Society @burgonsociety.bsky.social · Aug 15

From our North American colloquium, a little treasure in the Yale archives at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library: A pamphlet from the robemaker C. E. Ward of New London, Ohio. It’s a four-colour, die-cut item that unfolds to reveal its gowns, hoods and caps on offer. @yaleisp.bsky.social

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The Burgon Society @burgonsociety.bsky.social · Aug 12

At the North American Colloquium earlier this month, Jayne Ball, Michael P. Kolcun, Ashley Cale, and Jonathan Cooper view historic volumes at Yale’s Beinecke Rare Books Library. The archivists pulled some wonderful photos and ephemera from the university’s collection for us. @yaleisp.bsky.social

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The Burgon Society @burgonsociety.bsky.social · Aug 5

My source tells me that Cambridge introduced the degree in 1878. Either way, the portrait was painted in ’89.

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Jacob Gifford Head @giffordhead.co.uk · Aug 5

One of the nice things about that painting is that the gown looks like it is actually made out of silk. Modern fibres have a lot to answer for!

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The Burgon Society @burgonsociety.bsky.social · Aug 5

(Venn (ScD) doctor’s gown)

Dr John Venn is wearing a festal gown of a Cambridge doctor; he held the Doctor of Science. The degree was introduced in 1878 and apparently the faculty chose the silk in pink shot light blue (whether the painting’s colours reflect that is up to you).

Dr Anna Clark @drannaclark.bsky.social · Aug 4

The Logic of Chance: John Venn, influential English mathematician, logician & philosopher, who advanced understanding of probability, born #OTD 1834; President of Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge; created Venn diagram.
Portrait 1899 by Brock @caiuscollege.bsky.social
Venn diagram: Crispian Jago