The annual Harvard-Yale football game presents one of the best opportunities of the year to put together traditional preppy ensembles and turn out in force.
My great-grandfather graduated from Yale in 1916, and I’m the proud owner of several sartorial artifacts from his time in New Haven, among them a pipe, a smoking jacket embroidered with the Yale crest, and his ankle-length raccoon coat. The latter appeared on my doorstep in 2007, just after I matriculated at Yale; it had been passed from attic to attic until a distant relative heard I was heading to New Haven and graciously handed it down to another generation.
Although the coat is in remarkably good shape, I wasn’t bold enough to ship it the 1,000 miles between home and school during my freshman year. I was similarly unwilling to risk its health in the alleys of Cambridge in 2008. This year, however, I decided to brave the tailgates and constant threat of rain in true Old Yale fashion, and invoke the spirit of Yale legends past in the process.
My homage was in vain, but the weekend was not lost. I attended the Mory’s brunch tent with friends. While we found it rather sad to be posing for pictures on makeshift tables and chairs, rather than at the famed eating club itself, it was wonderful to taste the Baker’s Soup after the year-long drought brought on by the club’s temporary closing. Furthermore, we were able to continue exercising our love for the 1920s at Yale’s Prohibition Party (formerly Casino Night), and channeled Zelda and F. Scott all evening as flapper and philosopher.
Of course there was the potential for backlash from other undergraduates, indignant that their peers held Old Yale in such high regard. Save for a few catcalls from PETA devotees, we emerged unscathed. It was not nearly as cold as previous years, so fewer alums were sporting their own coats, but I bumped into a handful at the Mory’s tent who were more than willing to reminisce about the golden age. Those undergraduates who knew of the tradition found the revival genuinely cool, while those who didn’t simply scratched their hoodies in confusion.
It was the first time in almost a century that the coat had seen the inside of the Yale Bowl, and while I regret it didn’t see victory, as in 1916, it made an already special event even more memorable. Perhaps next year, my last at Yale, it will make the trip with me to enemy territory, and we shall see if the Cantabs respect the tradition of Ivy League fashion as much as their Yale brethren. — RILEY FORD
Very cool story. The raccoon coat was definitely an icon its era — and not only was worn without protest, but sought as a sign of success. It is amazing Riley’s coat has withstood the years in different attics, as such gems usually are neglected and permitted to dry out
But what makes the story so rich is the both the family heritage of the coat, but the fellowship of the alums as they toast days gone by.
Great story — Riley, and take care of that coat. It’s a true treasure.
Great story. This year at Princeton, it will be my 25. Our theme is the 1920s so there should be some great coon coats. If I can tear myself away from the parties,I try and snap some shots.
And note Fitzgerald’s take on the book. Then cancel all plans for a week and read the book. You’ll find yourself repeating phrases like “Say, Schley – weren’t you at Hotchkiss?” and you will know what the wearers of the original raccoon coats truly felt like.
How far did you get in Stover? I like the beginning — Dink’s enchantment with Yale/the society system — but his jaded bit towards the end is less fun to read, and it’s football-heavy at times. I think it’s an important read, though, especially for those interested in traditional Ivy League culture.
For the record, Stover at Yale is completely worth reading. Yale has changed a great deal in the past 99 years, but some things remain. Many of the personalities and internal struggles still exist. The book was much more accessible than I expected it to be.
Y ’11
Well Christian, I received my copy of Stover from the public lib. And I must say that I did give it a go. I don’t doubt that many of the struggles still persist, I know that they do at Princeton.( I am a fourth generation ) But because of the style of writing by Mr. Johnson, I too could not see clear to read all 386 pages. And to any that can my hats are off to you. I only could make it to pg.35
Nice story and photo. I wonder how Mr. Ford is today roughly 10 years later, and whether the coat still makes a periodic appearance at Harvard-Yale games. I certainly hope so.
Hi C. I have been wearing my vintage raccoon coat the past 10 winters in Buffalo ..the Hollywood film A Prince For Christmas was filmed in my area they used me as an extra for 7 shots at The Arcade & Attica RR Station..( because of the coat ) Always enjoy your web site Barry
The annual Harvard-Yale football game presents one of the best opportunities of the year to put together traditional preppy ensembles and turn out in force.
Very cool story. The raccoon coat was definitely an icon its era — and not only was worn without protest, but sought as a sign of success. It is amazing Riley’s coat has withstood the years in different attics, as such gems usually are neglected and permitted to dry out
But what makes the story so rich is the both the family heritage of the coat, but the fellowship of the alums as they toast days gone by.
Great story — Riley, and take care of that coat. It’s a true treasure.
Great story. This year at Princeton, it will be my 25. Our theme is the 1920s so there should be some great coon coats. If I can tear myself away from the parties,I try and snap some shots.
Very cool across the board – with one possible problem. After reading the above post, I searched for “Stover” and got zero results.
Start here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stover_at_Yale
And note Fitzgerald’s take on the book. Then cancel all plans for a week and read the book. You’ll find yourself repeating phrases like “Say, Schley – weren’t you at Hotchkiss?” and you will know what the wearers of the original raccoon coats truly felt like.
How far did you get in Stover? I like the beginning — Dink’s enchantment with Yale/the society system — but his jaded bit towards the end is less fun to read, and it’s football-heavy at times. I think it’s an important read, though, especially for those interested in traditional Ivy League culture.
Your so kind, I have only just started to find my voice in this new world.
Thanks again.
Always Bumby.
For the record, Stover at Yale is completely worth reading. Yale has changed a great deal in the past 99 years, but some things remain. Many of the personalities and internal struggles still exist. The book was much more accessible than I expected it to be.
Y ’11
Well Christian, I received my copy of Stover from the public lib. And I must say that I did give it a go. I don’t doubt that many of the struggles still persist, I know that they do at Princeton.( I am a fourth generation ) But because of the style of writing by Mr. Johnson, I too could not see clear to read all 386 pages. And to any that can my hats are off to you. I only could make it to pg.35
Always Bumby
Riley – nice story, thanks for sharing. So sorry you missed Mory’s; but especially sorry the Doodle is no more. Sad.
Best for the rest of your term.
Boola Boola! Thanks for sharing!
Nice story and photo. I wonder how Mr. Ford is today roughly 10 years later, and whether the coat still makes a periodic appearance at Harvard-Yale games. I certainly hope so.
Bulldog Bulldog Bow Wow Wow
For those who would like to read “Stover At Yale”, the book is available as a free eBook from Project Gutenberg:
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46674
Hi C. I have been wearing my vintage raccoon coat the past 10 winters in Buffalo ..the Hollywood film A Prince For Christmas was filmed in my area they used me as an extra for 7 shots at The Arcade & Attica RR Station..( because of the coat ) Always enjoy your web site Barry