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The product is a vintage cap from Watkins College of Art and Design in Nashville, which later merged with Belmont University. This original piece of historical memorabilia features the theme of colleges and universities, making it a unique collectible item.
Watkins was founded as the Watkins Institute in 1885 by Samuel Watkins, a self-educated Nashville businessman. The school became nationally accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) in 1996. Watkins was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD). First located on Church Street in downtown Nashville, the school moved to temporary facilities in the 100 Oaks area in 1999, and then to a permanent location in 2002. Watkins opened its first residence hall in 2005 and the second in 2008.
The college merged with Belmont University and moved to the university's campus in 2020. The merger plans were not welcomed by all Watkins students and faculty with some particularly concerned about Belmont University's practices of firing non-Christian faculty and staff and restrictions of practices deemed incompatible with the university's Christian beliefs e.g., not allowing drawings of nude models, demanding a director remove swearing from a play's script.
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