McKinley High School - Nugget Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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Hcademic Caps and Gowns Oration Delivered at Graduation by MURRAY OLSEN The graduating class of lanuary, 1935, is the first to wear academic caps and gowns. We are, as it were, inaugurating a custom which we hope will produce a democratic feeling among students, discouraging the comparisons that arise when too much emphasis is placed upon dress. Perhaps the classes to follow will also wear caps and gowns, perhaps they will not, but be that as it may, this class will go down on record as the first from McKinley High School to wear academic robes. All countries of the East and West which boast an ancient civilization have some sort of official robes. The tendency in modern times has been to multiply, rather than to diminish, their number. The custom of wearing these robes originated far back in history and is thought to be of ecclesiastical origin. A gown was worn as an official costume on occasions of particular solemnity. As early as the end of the fourteenth century peers seem to have worn some kind of robe of honor for their inaugural ceremony. An illumination on the charter of Kings College, Cambridge, represents the peers in 1446 wearing gowns, mantles and hoods of scarlet. The statutes of certain colleges required of their scholars a tonsure and a habit suitable to a clerk. College and university students in those days were considered as clerks. These students, or clerks, were required to wear long black gowns. About the time of Queen Elizabeth square caps began to appear. These caps are sometimes called four-corner caps or black caps. They first appeared in judicial dress. The judges of the courts used to wear caps when they were about to pronounce sentence upon a man. Somehow these caps became associated with colleges. The University of Paris was first to adopt them. Thereafter the custom spread, and by 1520 square caps were in general use as an integral part of academic dress. ln the United States the custom of wearing official robes is not so old. Iohn Iay, first Chief Iustice of the Supreme Court, set the fashion by sitting in the LL.D. gown. Since that time the custom has grown enormously. ln 1893 an intercollegiate commission drafted a uniform code for academic caps, gowns and hoods, which has since been accepted by some seven hundred colleges and universities in the United States. From what l have said I hope you understand the practical and historic significance of this universal custom of wearing special gowns at graduation. Since we consider our graduation a solemn and dignified affair, we wish to appear in solemn and dignified dress. We of the graduating class of Ianuary, 1935, are proud to be the first to introduce this appropriate custom at McKinley High School. Page Eighteen

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'iff 1 ,Jr , R , ., ,.:. . it ' F OFFICERS -ay ' -. , g , MARGARET MOECKEL fl I sllo omg, roolled, danced and playedg ' sho ddr o drool accomplished mold. L.-- N cElvER.aL COURSE gr - woorrosrolorrl, sovorrs, varorrorloorrr. sorraor class: Senior Play: Graduation Programg clogs Day Program: Nugget sion, Ice siding Club, soo.: lwlllslool llovuo, soo., 'szsssr Glee Club: College Club: Library srolig ggi- 1 soo l-olmo Gym Emblem. FRANCIS GEORGE SMITH VIRGINIA LEE BUTLER copolllo, popdlof, idol odd fdlr, A pleasant dlrporlllrm, dlllr friends gdlofo. , . . . . , . GENERAL COURSE Mm CMI' 'sf f' ' 'he P'eS '1e'L' S Ch ' soorerory, Senior clogs, Graduation Program: soo Poirrlo Q , GENF-RAL COURSB , G,-rrr Errrlllorrr, Morrllorg narrolrlg Club, '32g Nugget Proordorrl, Senior class: Class Day Program: Graduation Sm,- ,Programg Nugget Slatfg Track. RAYMOND 1, AZAR HELEN GOUI-D Q ,lid-dyo ld llro girls' good grocer Another crdolo Allen. GENERAL COURSE GEYERAL . , COURSE Serg,-at-Arms, Senior Class: Football, '32, '33, Mug Treasurer, Senior Class. Radio Club. Vice-Pres., '34g Monitor. Class of Ianuary, 1935 Sponsor ---------- MISS THUL Motto - - SCIENTIA POTESTAS EST. Colors - - - BROWN AND WHITE Flower - - - - - - CHRYSANTHEMUM This class was organized in March, 1934. The officers of the new senior class f ' ' ' ' were as ollows, President, George Hasser, vice-president, Margaret Moeckelg secretary, Lucille Miller, tr G arms, Anthony DeFi1io. easurer, rant Knoblauchg sergeant-at- As seniors, the class originated and promoted the idea of an annual, which, with the co-operation of the class of Iune, 1935, has developed into this first d't' f ' e 1 lon o the Nugget. The class of Ianuary, 1935, introduced the wear- ing of the academic cap and gown for graduation. SOCIAL CALENDAR Party given for Iune graduates-May 29, 1934. Senior Play, Green Stockings -November 22 and 23, 1934. Dance, given by new seniors-December 20, 1934, Class Day, party given by Mothers Club-Ianuary 11, 1935. Graduation-Ianuary 24, 1935, Page Nineteen