On View
Cultural Expressions Gallery
Exhibition
Cultural Expressions
Designed by
Nicholson, Barbara, American
Worn by
Dr. Cole, Johnnetta Betsch, American, born 1936
Subject of
Bennett College, American, founded 1873
Date
2003
Medium
synthetic fiber, cardboard, elastic, and tassels
Dimensions
H x W x D: 11 1/2 × 13 × 13 in. (29.2 × 33 × 33 cm)
Description
A blue and gold mortarboard cap from Bennett College worn by Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole. The cap has a stiff square top that is covered in a bright blue synthetic fabric. A wide strip of blue, black, and gold striped woven tape is attached diagonally across the top. An excerpt from the poem "Still I Rise" (1978) by Maya Angelou reading "Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear / I rise / Maya Angelou" is printed in gold beneath the woven band. The cap is trimmed with black, gold, and blue woven tape in a scrollwork pattern, with the tape wrapping around the top and the bottom edges of the mortarboard. A circular opening at the center of the bottom side of the mortarboard is surrounded by a panel of the blue synthetic fabric and the same woven tape used to trim the mortarboard, with elastic inside it to secure the mortarboard to the head. Inside the opening is handwritten text in gold puff paint reading "October 11th / 2003". Two gold tassels are looped around a blue button at the center of the top of the mortarboard and then through a thread loop on the edge of the mortarboard.
Place used
Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Clothing-Historical
Type
mortarboards
Topic
African diaspora
Clothing and dress
Design
Education
Fashion design
HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Johnnetta Betsch Cole
Object number
2015.209.6
Restrictions & Rights
No Known Copyright Restrictions
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5939be65a-399b-49b2-acd6-3b1d5913ad35

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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