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 2, 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 several stories including a story about the Czar, Alexander III, fleeing from a possible assassination attempt, a Columbus, an Ohio penitentiary restaffing with a new warden and staff, the election of P.H. Dowling to post commander in Cincinnati, and more. The second page of this issue included stories about strikes being held in the United States and Europe for better wages and the eight hour workday for a variety of laborers. Also included in this issue are local and regional news as well as advertisements.
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West Side News, May 2, 1891
Wright & Wright Printers
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. The front page features a story about a Don Keely, who operates a fake motor that helps him rob shareholders that have invested in his "motor." Also included in this issue are national news, local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
This issue of West Side News is believed to have been published in May of 1890 rather than 1891.
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The Evening Item May 1, 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 the Red River in Texas flooding, a rabbi in conflict in Philadelphia after a sermon, forest fires in New Jersey, and more. Also included in this issue are local and regional news as well as advertisements.
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The Evening Item April 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 inaugural issue features stories of a potential the National Guard being on alert in Chicago due to the eight hour day movement, a list of laws enacted by state legislators, a report about William Kemmler being put to death by electrocution, and more. The second page of this feature includes a statement concerning the frequency what types of information The Evening Item would publish. Also included in this issue are local and regional news as well as advertisements.
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West Side News, April 5, 1890
Orville Wright
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. The front page of this issue features reports of a mirage appearing above Ashland, Ohio, the invention of a stove that lights using electricity, a telegraph that converts Morse code to text, and more. Also included in this issue are national news, local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
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West Side News, March 29, 1890
Orville Wright
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. The front page of this issue features a letter to the editor asking West Side natives to patronize businesses on the West Side, an uprising and escape from a local work house, and more. This is the first issue of the second volume of the West Side News. On the second page they post their mission statement as being "to present to our readers a paper worthy of the city and people whom it is intended to represent..." Also included in this issue are national news, local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
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West Side News, March 22, 1890
Orville Wright
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. The front page of this issue features a letter to the editor complaining about the lack of a hardware store on the West Side, news of a retiring postmaster, a destroyed buggy shed, a narrowly escaped fire, and more. Also included in this issue are local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
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West Side News, March 15, 1890
Orville Wright
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. The front page of this issue features a story about native Californians lassoing bears, an anecdote about a man trying to buy hard boiled eggs, a story about a local woman committing suicide, and more. Also included in this issue are national news, local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
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West Side News, March 8, 1890
Orville Wright
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. The front page of this issue features a short history on political parties in the United States and assorted city news. Also included in this issue are national news, local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
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West Side News, February 22, 1890
Orville Wright
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. The front page of this issue features a anecdotes about a present a colonel received, a young lawyer trying a case, and more. Also included in this issue are national news, local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
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West Side News, February 15, 1890
Orville Wright
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. The front page of this issue features stories about the Secretary of State teasing a lawyer about obtaining a consulship, a superstitious woman, and more. Also included in this issue are national news, local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
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West Side News, February 8, 1890
Orville Wright
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. The front page of this issue features a write up about the circus owner, Adam Forepaugh, a story on Thomas Baldwin parachuting safely from a hot air balloon, a short article on the benefits and uses of Thomas Edison's phonograph, and more. Also included in this issue are national news, local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
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West Side News, February 1, 1890
Orville Wright
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. The front page of this issue features a story about the ghost of a conductor beheaded in a train accident, a dog getting caught in a woman's dress, and more. Also included in this issue are national news, local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
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West Side News, January 25, 1890
Orville Wright
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. This issue features a story regarding a young black infant that could repeat any words spoken to him despite being three months old, an anecdote about a man claiming to be brave in a thunderstorm, and more. On the second page there is a small note about an automated pancake machine explaining how it works. Also included in this issue are national news, local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
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West Side News, January 18, 1890
Orville Wright
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. The front page of this issue features a story about a printing establishment in Shanghai, stories of different types of courage from General Horace Porter, and more. Also included in this issue are national news, local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
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West Side News, January 11, 1890
Orville Wright
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. The front page of this issue features information on the Canvasback duck, an anecdote about Colonel Pierce on advertising, a story about whether pigeons would fall or fly when released from the Eiffel Tower, and more. Also included in this issue are national news, local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
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West Side News, January 3, 1890
Orville Wright and Edwin Sines
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. The first page of this issue features anecdotes about Walter Savage Landor throwing a man out a window, Reynell Taylor encountering jackals in a forest, a recounting of proper Chinese etiquette, and more. The second page contains a small note about a local grocery buying a National Cash Register to use in the store. Also included in this issue are national news, local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
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West Side News, December 28, 1889
Orville Wright and Edwin Sines
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. The front page of this issue features anecdotes about a young spendthrift, a thankful Irishman, and more. Also included in this issue are national news, local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
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West Side News, December 21, 1889
Orville Wright and Edwin Sines
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. The front page of this issue features anecdote about a boy trying to sell a dog, a reprint of a story about a man deciding to make his son a politician, and more. Also included in this issue are national news, local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
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West Side News, December 7, 1889
Orville Wright and Edwin Sines
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. The front page of this issue features the short story titled "Mark Twain's Watch" by author Mark Twain about trying to have his watch repaired. Also included in this issue are national news, local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
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West Side News, November 30, 1889
Orville Wright and Edwin Sines
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. The front page features an anecdotes about a priest and two lawyers, a Baptist elder and a teamster trying to move a team of oxen, and more. The second page has an article about a contemporary local newspaper the "Midget," losing it's capital. This page also has a lengthy story about a gas explosion in Miami City that destroyed W.S. Hawthorne's home. The article goes into great description of the events as well as discussing possible scenarios that would have caused the explosion. Also included in this issue are national news, local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
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West Side News, November 23, 1889
Orville Wright and Edwin Sines
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. The front page features an anecdotes about a little girl learning the phrase "darn it," an Irish soldier in a Confederate regiment, a man hunting for a tiger, and more. The second page has an article about the recent rebellion to remove the Emperor of Brazil from power. The article also describes a short history of Dom Pedro II, the second and last Emperor of Brazil. Also included in this issue are national news, local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
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West Side News, November 16, 1889
Orville Wright and Edwin Sines
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. The first page in this issue features a story about a runaway slave, an explanation of the process of photographing stars, and more. Also included in this issue are national news, local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
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West Side News, November 9, 1889
Orville Wright and Edwin Sines
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. The front page of this issue features a reprint of an editorial on waking up early, an anecdote about a clergyman killing a fly, and more. On the second page there is a small article about litigation against the United Brethren Church, and a small note about the Davis Sewing Machine Company moving to Dayton. On the third page there is a reprint of an article from Munford's Magazine about alcohol addition, referred to as "dipsomania." On the last page of this issue a print of a Thanksgiving Proclamation by President Benjamin Harrison. Also included in this issue are national news, local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
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West Side News, November 2, 1889
Orville Wright and Edwin Sines
West Side News was a weekly newspaper published by the Wright Brothers. This paper, published in March 1889 through May of 1890, featured news from the west side of Dayton. The front page of this article features a story about different scientists theorizing about the potential dangers of drilling for natural gas, an anecdote about a man speaking at the Clover Club in Philadelphia, and more. The second page has a small article on Constitutional Amendments that provide for the election of a governor every three years, creating single districts, and issues relating to taxation. Also included in this issue are national news, local news, humorous stories, and advertisements.
