[Ads-l] Antedating of "'Fro"

Wed Mar 19 10:27:18 UTC 2025

Excellent work, Fred, Peter, and Jesse. Here is a pertinent citation.

Date: February 23, 1969
Newspaper: Richmond Times-Dispatch
Newspaper Location: Richmond, Virginia
Article: Fashions, Customs, Beauty Often Break With Tradition
Author: Sydney Van Lear (Times-Dispatch Fashion Editor)
Quote Page J-18, Column 2
Database: Newspapers.com

[Begin excerpt]
The "Afro" hairdo, referred to by some as the "natural," and by the
high school set as "the Fro," is being worn by some in the Richmond
area.
[End excerpt]

Garson

On Tue, Mar 18, 2025 at 10:24 PM Jesse Sheidlower <jester at panix.com> wrote:
>
> This is from Volume 5, No. 2 of the _Current Slang_ series that was published by the University of South Dakota. This issue is dated Fall 1970 (elsewhere specified as October), so it's not an antedating of the May 1970 Atlanta Journal quote.
>
> Note that Green's Dictionary of Slang has this quote (under the _Afro_ entry), and that it actually reads _'Fro..._ (i.e. with a leading apostrophe).
>
> Jesse Sheidlower
>
> On Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 01:51:21AM +0000, mr_peter_morris at outlook.com wrote:
> > Possible antedating.
> >
> > A list titled "Current Slang".   Google dated to 1967.
> > Searching the text indicates it is probably  1968-70.
> >
> > Google search says it contains entry:
> > Fro , n . An Afro hair style
> >
> > Google snippet view does not show these words.
> >
> > https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Current_Slang/SWVXAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22afro%22+%22fro%22+hair&dq=%22afro%22+%22fro%22+hair&printsec=frontcover
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------ Original Message ------
> > From "Shapiro, Fred" <fred.shapiro at YALE.EDU<mailto:fred.shapiro at YALE.EDU>>
> > To ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU<mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > Date 19/03/2025 00:17:12
> > Subject Antedating of "'Fro"
> >
> > 'fro (OED 1970 Dec. 14)
> >
> > 1970 Atlanta Journal 31 May Magazine 22 (Newspapers.com)
> >
> > You're familiar with 'fro, aren't you — the Afro hairdos that some of us wear?
> >
> > Fred Shapiro
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
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> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
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>
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