[Ads-l] Antedating of "Rag" (Dancing Party)

[Shapiro, Fred]

Great citations, Bill.

It certainly seems like Kansas and Missouri were the epicenters of rag dancing.

Fred Shapiro

________________________________
From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of Bill Mullins <amcombill at HOTMAIL.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2026 11:46 PM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Subject: Antedating of "Rag" (Dancing Party)

>   rag (OED, n5, 1., 1891)
>
>   1886 Sedalia (Missouri) Weekly Bazoo 5 Oct. 8/1 (Newspapers.com)
>
>   There was a negro rag dance on Main street last night, but the orgies became so noisy the police made a descent and closed it.
>
>   Fred Shapiro


1867 Daily [St.Louis] Missouri Republican 6 Jan 2/5 (genealogybank)

Let us dance the rag dance, let us dance the rag dance, &c.




1885 Sedalia (Missouri) Weekly Bazoo 24 Mar. 6/2 (genealogybank)

These rag dances are the most vicious and dangerous institutions, and the community which permits them will bring odor upon itself.



1886 Sedalia (Missouri) Weekly Bazoo 5 Jan. 8/1 (genealogybank)

Of late the building has been let for the purpose of holding negro rag dances,
much to the annoyance of the neighborhood and of Mr. Brickle, whose residence
adjoins it and who is seriously ill.



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