[Ads-l] Antedating of "Socialite"

Sun May 14 14:57:42 UTC 2023

Excellent citation, Fred. Here is an instance of "socialites" with the
desired sense in 1893.

Date: March 19, 1893
Newspaper: The Chattanooga Sunday Times
Newspaper Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee
Article: Knoxville Society
Quote Page 9, Column 1
Database: Newspapers.com

https://www.newspapers.com/article/chattanooga-daily-times-socialites/124648084/

[Begin excerpt]
Only one special occurrence deserving of special mention was enjoyed
by society during the past week . . .

The decorations were superb and this popular dancing hall never
presented a scene of more bewildering beauty. The dance was given by
Messrs. Horace Aiken and Allen Gallaher, two of Knoxville's most
prominent socialites, and surely they surpassed all previous efforts.
[End excerpt]

[Begin excerpt from OED]
socialite, n.
Originally U.S. colloquial.
A person who is prominent in fashionable or wealthy society; a person
who is fond of social activities and entertainment.
[End excerpt from OED]

There are earlier citations, but the meaning is somewhat uncertain, to me.

Date: March 14, 1886
Newspaper: The Indianapolis Journal
Newspaper Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Article: Muncie
Quote Page 3, Column 2
Database: Newspapers.com

[Begin excerpt]
Miss Rose Budd entertained the Socialite Euchre Club at her home on
Friday evening. A very pleasant time was enjoyed by all.
[End excerpt]

Date: June 20, 1886
Newspaper: The Indianapolis Journal
Newspaper Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Article: Muncie
Quote Page 3, Column 2
Database: Newspapers.com

[Begin excerpt]
The Socialite Club, of this city, picnicked at Black's Mills, nine
miles north of this city, on Friday afternoon. A very pleasant time
was had.
[End excerpt]

Garson

On Sat, May 13, 2023 at 8:42 AM Shapiro, Fred <fred.shapiro at yale.edu> wrote:
>
> socialite (OED 1909)
>
> 1907 _Santa Cruz Sentinel_ 30 Oct. 3/2 (Newspapers.com)  The extravagance of apparel which is sweeping like a blight over the continents has bitten tenaciously at the fancy of our social people when decking themselves for their strictly social affairs.  On all other occasions they attire themselves modestly enough.  But when a function rallies the socialites together the affair has come to be something of a dress parade, each one vying helplessly, pathetically with the fortunate possessors of wealth.
>
> Fred Shapiro
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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