Special Collections and Archives in the Wright State University Libraries and the Dayton Metro Library have partnered together to create an online archive of the most complete run of Wright Brothers newspapers available to date. Both the Dayton Metro Library and WSU's Special Collections and Archives house original issues of the Wright Brothers newspapers. By combining the two collections in an online archive, this valuable resource will be available in a readily accessible format worldwide.
The Wright Brothers operated a printing business from 1889 to 1899, before they started their bicycle business, and before they tackled the challenge of flight. Over the years, they worked on several publications and local newspapers, including: The Midget, a small school newspaper; church pamphlets; the West Side News; The Evening Item; parts catalogs for bicycles; and the Dayton Tattler, published for neighborhood friend and noted poet and novelist, Paul Laurence Dunbar.
This project was made possible through a donation to the Communication Department at Wright State University from The Greenwood Family. For more information on this collection, please visit Wright State University Special Collections and Archives.
This series collects newspapers from The Midget, the West Side News, and The Evening Item.
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The Evening Item May 31, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. The front page of this issue features a story about a passenger train dashed off an open drawbridge, news of the Normandie steamship almost hitting an iceberg and surviving, a description of the Garfield Memorial in Cleveland, Ohio, and more. Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local and regional news, and advertisements.
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The Evening Item May 30, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. The front page of this issue features a story about a bill affecting interstate liquor trade being passed in the US Senate, questions sent to physicians for health information to supplement the eleventh census, a report of an assassin named Eyraud being captured in Havana, Cuba, and more. Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local and regional news, and advertisements.
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The Evening Item May 29, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. The front page of this issue features a reprint of a letter from Secretary of the Treasury, William Windom, to the Chicago Builders' Exchange regarding violating contract-labor laws, a short article about attendees to the forthcoming dedication of the President Garfield's Memorial in Cleveland, Ohio, and more. Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local and regional news, and advertisements.
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The Evening Item May 28, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. The front page of this issue features a story about a father shooting his daughter's lover, testimony given by editor of the Staats Zeitung about immigration and naturalization, and more. Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local and regional news, and advertisements.
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The Evening Item May 27, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. The front page of this issue features a story about a horse with hydrophobia attacking a farmer, a report of a bill introduced in Congress to "abolish oppressive rents," and more. The fourth page of this issue features a collection of "scientific and useful facts" including the listed speeds of electricity, light, and a rifle ball. Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local and regional news, and advertisements.
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The Evening Item May 26, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. The front page of this issue details an the steamship Aurania colliding with a steam launch, a report from Indiana about a new bride giving birth after her wedding three weeks prior, news of a boating accident in Massachusetts, and more. Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local and regional news, and advertisements.
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The Evening Item May 24, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. This Saturday edition of The Evening Item was published in two separate parts, but the two parts have been combined here for ease of reading. The front page of this issue features a story about a missing bookkeeper who deserted his wife, a report on waning interest in professional baseball from President Albert Spalding of the Chicago League Baseball club, information on an amendment to a naval appropriation bill, and more. Also included in this two part issue are short stories, anecdotes, fashion news, local and regional news, advertisements and more.
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The Evening Item May 23, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. The front page of this issue features a story about a woman who tied herself to a train car to commit suicide, news of a freight train colliding with a passenger train, debate over the River and Harbor Appropriations Bill, and more. Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local and regional news, and advertisements.
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The Evening Item May 22, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. The front page of this issue features a story about an increase in the membership of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, news about the lynching of a man in Mississippi, and more. on Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local and regional news, and advertisements.
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The Evening Item May 21, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. The front page of this issue features a story about a bill in Congress limiting the power of states to control imported liquors, news of convicted murderer, William Kemmler's attorney decrying death by electrocution, and more. Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local and regional news, and advertisements.
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The Evening Item May 20, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. The front page of this issue features stories about a waiters' strike in Chicago, news of a decision by the Supreme Court to fail an appeal by the Mormon Church, a letter from President Harrison to Congress favoring a transcontinental railroad; and more. Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local and regional news, and advertisements.
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The Evening Item May 19, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. The front page of this issue features stories about men killed by a powder explosion in Havana, Cuba, an ex-priest who abandoned his family to return to the Catholic Church, a note from then Secretary of State, James Blaine, about not running for President, and more. Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local and regional news, and advertisements.
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The Evening Item May 17, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. This Saturday edition of The Evening Item was published in two separate parts, but the two parts have been combined here for ease of reading. The front page of this issue features a story about the business manager of the Springfield Democrat afflicted with "mania" after a dog bite, a report about improved trade across the country, news about John Carlisle, who replaced James Beck in the Senate, and more. On the second page there is news of casualties from a recently collapsed mine in Pennsylvania and commentary on Thomas Edison improving upon his telegraph. On the sixth page there is a story about the processing of making maple syrup as well as an analysis of a the next day's Sunday School lesson. Also included in this two part issue are short stories, anecdotes, local and regional news, advertisements and more.
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The Evening Item May 16, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. The front page of this issue features a story about miners trapped in a collapsed mine in Pennsylvania, an update on the bill to use silver as United States coin, and more. On the fourth page there is a reprint of an article from the Philadelphia Record about the possibility of capitalists in Philadelphia building a giant refrigeration factory that will pump chilled air into homes like gas and water. Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local and regional news, and advertisements.
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The Evening Item May 15, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. The front page of this issue features a story about Republican members of the Ways and Means Committee holding exclusive secret meetings in the Capitol, a digest of news from Washington D.C., and more. Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local and regional news, and advertisements.
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The Evening Item May 14, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. The front page of this issue features news of a senator speaking in favor of adopting silver for producing coins, a letter from Benjamin F. Butler concerning a Samuel Fielden being sentenced to death, a story about a wife attempting to kill her husband, and more. Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local and regional news, and advertisements.
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The Evening Item May 13, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. The front page of this issue features a US Senator Ingalls response to the charge of plagiarizing Jean-Baptiste Massillon, turmoil over passenger train fares to the Western United States, and more. Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local and regional news, and advertisements.
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The Evening Item May 12, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. The front page of this issue features an interview with a Mrs. Carey, wife of delegate Carey of Wyoming, about women's suffrage, news about several strikes in Chicago, a report about a two girls abused by their mother in Bangor, Maine, and more. Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local and regional news, and advertisements.
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The Evening Item May 10, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. This Saturday edition of The Evening Item was published in two separate parts, but the two parts have been combined here for ease of reading. The front page of this issue features a digest of stories about legislation in Washington D.C., news about a strike at the Indianapolis Car Works Company, a report of a speech by employer, President Goldie, at the meeting of the Carpenter and Builder Association, and more. On the second page there is a small editorial suggesting that congressmen record themselves on phonographs to remind themselves of the topics of their speeches in the future. On the sixth page there is a short history of the Savannah, the first steam-powered ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Also included in this two part issue are short stories, anecdotes, fashion news, local and regional news, advertisements and more.
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The Evening Item May 9, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. The front page of this issue features stories regarding an appointment of a Colonel Richard Hinton "investigating irrigation in the arid region," an account of capturing escaped convicts charged with the murder of Dr. Patrick Cronin, and more. On the third page there is a report about a poorly attended meeting of the West Side Improvement Association. Wilbur Wright was among the three attendees at that meeting. On the final page there is a story about the origin of Thomas Edison's phonograph. Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local and regional news, and advertisements.
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The Evening Item May 8, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. The front page of this issue features stories about a fire in an insane asylum, William McKinley moving that Congress go into committee regarding a tariff bill, and more. On the second page there is an obituary for the Reverend Joseph Cummings, president of Northwestern University. Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local and regional news, and advertisements.
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The Evening Item May 7, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. The front page of this issue features a story about an insane asylum burning, a description of Senator Beck's funeral, and more. On the second page there is a continuation of the story about a dispute between former President Grover Cleveland over what was said about editor C. A. Dana of the New York Sun. The second page also details a the outcome of a recent labor strike in Chicago. Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local and regional news, and advertisements.
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The Evening Item May 6, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused on world and local events. The front page of this issue features a letter regarding an interview former President Cleveland gave and supposed language he used to describe the interviewer, news of a funeral for Senator James Beck's funeral, and more. Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local news, and advertisements.
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The Evening Item May 5, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused more on world news than their previous newspapers. The front page of this issue features stories about a mob of anarchists being dispersed in Barcelona, offering officers in the United States Army a per diem for travel rather than the current system of reimbursements, and more. The second page of includes a short report about the German Army using a new type of gun that uses cartridges and how it works. Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local news, and advertisements.
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The Evening Item May 3, 1890
Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
The Evening Item was a daily newspaper published by the Wright Brothers' Company, Item Publishing Co. This paper, published from April 1890 through July 1890, focused more on world news than their previous papers. The front page of this issue features several stories about recent labor strikes in Europe and the United States for an eight hour workday and better wage rates. Also included in this issue are anecdotes, local and regional news, and advertisements.
