Derivation of the word oaktag

[Millie Webb]

FWIW on my end: I grew up in Minnesota, and have lived "Up North" (MN, MI,
WI) my whole life.  I had never heard it called "oaktag" until this question
came up.  Now, I have not been an elementary school art teacher either...
But to me, it has always been "tagboard" or "poster board".  This might lend
some more credence to the "NY-Thang" theory.  Where are you checking in
from, Gerry?  -- Millie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gerry Hurley" <GHurley at OVID.COM>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Thursday, December 19, 2002 2:49 PM
Subject: Derivation of the word oaktag


> Hi,
>
> I'm a librarian and my husband asked me if I could find out
> the derivation of the word "oaktag" (that kind of heavy paper
> we all used in kindergarten).  It's also called tagboard and
> sometimes posterboard.  I'm drawing a blank. I've searched
> the web, looked at art web sites; used the paper and pulp
> encyclopedia, dictionaries, encyclopedias, etc.  I can find
> definitions and explanations of what oaktag it, but I can't find
> any info on why/how the word came into being.