Formation 2000 Purpose study and research Website www.burgon.org.uk | Type charity President James P.S. Thomson | |
The Burgon Society was founded in 2000 for the study and promotion of academical dress, to preserve its history and to advise film and television companies and interested others in its correct usage. The president of the society is Graham Zellick, CBE, QC, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of London. His predecessors were James P.S. Thomson, former Master of London Charterhouse (2011-16) and the organist John Birch, who served two terms (2001-11).
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One of the society's founding fellows, Nicholas Groves, created the Groves classification system for academic dress, in which the most common shapes of British gowns, hoods and caps are coded for easy reference. He also designed the gowns of the University of Malta. His design, selected from entries submitted in an international competition, debuted in November 2011 at a degree ceremony in Valletta, Malta.
The society is named after John William Burgon (1813–1888) from whom the Burgon shape academic hood takes its name. The Burgon hood is depicted in profile in the society's emblem, surrounded by Bishop Andrewes caps.
In 2010, the society received charity status from the Charity Commission.
Activities
The society publishes an annual journal of peer-reviewed research into academic dress. It holds a spring conference each year and organises visits to robemakers, universities and other institutions, as well as a congregation, at which successful candidates are admitted to fellowship of the society. There are also occasional garden parties usually hosted in the country somewhere.
Patrons
The patrons of the society are:
Membership
In addition to the patrons and the president, the society includes fellows, individual members and corporate members. Membership is open to all who support the aims of the society. Fellowship (FBS) is awarded to members on the successful submission of a piece of original work on a topic approved by the executive committee. Fellowship may also be awarded to any member who has demonstrated in some other way a significant contribution to the study of academic dress. Occasionally, the fellowship may be awarded honoris causa.