News

Collection Highlights
    May. 03, 2017

    Ohioana’s First Virtual Exhibit

    This year marks Ohioana’s 88th year in operation, and during that time Ohioana has had plenty of time to grow, adapt and, of course, collect literature from Ohio authors. Ohioana’s collection now includes more than 45,000 books, 10,000 pieces of sheet music, and approximately 20,000 biographical files on Ohio writers, musicians, and artists. The best news? Any of these items ... Read More
    Mar. 23, 2017

    Happy Spring!

    It’s here! Spring is here! On Monday, did you run outside and beat on the ground with a stick to tell the earth to wake up? And some daffodils were blooming on Monday. Did you pick one and eat it? No? *Whew!* Good move! They’re not edible! Although someone at Ohioana did indeed eat one and nothing bad happened. It was planted on top of ... Read More
    Mar. 15, 2017

    Good Luck and Bad Luck

    March is a month when we remember fate and destiny. Or the lack of fate and destiny. Sometimes, things just happen. March 15 is famous for being the Ides of March, or the middle of the month. It’s the day that Julius Caesar was assassinated by members of his senate. It’s memorable to the English-speaking world because of William Shakespeare’s ... Read More
    May. 16, 2014

    Children’s Book Week 2014

    As Children’s Book Week draws to a close, we wanted to highlight some of the incredibly talented children’s book writers and illustrators who have called Ohio home. Although we don’t have room to list everyone here, you may want to check out the Newbery and Caldecott winners and honorees listed below. Some are classic, some are contemporary…all are great. Natalie ... Read More
    Apr. 30, 2014

    Poetry in Ohioana’s Collection

    As National Poetry Month draws to a close, we’re sharing some beautiful vintage books by Ohio poets Paul Laurence Dunbar and Alice and Phoebe Cary. We’ve already shared biographical information and the cover of Li’l’ Gal by Paul Laurence Dunbar here. Today we’re sharing more covers from this Dayton-born poet, novelist, lyricist, and playwright. When Malindy Sings is one of ... Read More
    Feb. 28, 2014

    Menus in the Ohioana Archives

    Having actual food in the archives would be bad, but menus are another story. The Laura M. Mueller ephemera collection includes a selection of Columbus restaurant menus that spans most of the 20th century. We’re sharing a few sample menus below. Henry Chittenden built a total of three hotels in the same location on the northwest corner of N. High St. ... Read More
    Jan. 31, 2014

    Zane Grey

    On this day in 1872, novelist Zane Grey was born in Zanesville, Ohio. Grey’s ancestors were some of the early settlers of Ohio; Zanesville was founded by his maternal great-great uncle Ebenezer Zane. As a child Grey enjoyed fishing and baseball, and was also an avid reader of adventure stories. He attended Zanesville High School until his father moved the ... Read More
    Jan. 24, 2014

    Civil Rights Photos of James Karales

    In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this week we’re highlighting a recent addition to our collection: Controversy and Hope: The Civil Rights Photographs of James Karales. Karales was born in 1930 in Canton, Ohio. He attended Ohio University, switching his major from engineering to photography after seeing the work of his photographer roommate. After graduation, Karales moved to ... Read More
    Dec. 20, 2013

    Vintage Christmas Books

    This week we’re sharing a few vintage Christmas-themed books from Ohioana’s collection. First is Christmas Every Day and Other Stories Told for Children by William Dean Howells, published by Harper & Brothers Publishers in 1893. We talked about Howells in our last post about decorative publishers’ bindings here. This particular book is a first edition donated to the library by Carl ... Read More