Re: Some research is indicated
I think the first published version of the JF / HD, for some interpretation of "published", was the first edition of The New Hacker's Dictionary. ESR's preface to the second edition says the first was published in 1983. The second edition is copyright 1993.
So around 36 years ago. The Jargon File itself of course is older, but I don't know offhand when it started circulating informally.