German-Americana Resources

The years 1865-1885 are currently available online. The paper is the Sunday edition (Sonntagsblatt) of the widely-read Tägliches Cincinnati Volksblatt ("The Daily Cincinnati People's Paper"). Regular content included novels, narratives, novellas, poems, riddles, anecdotes, historical insights, travel portraits, fashion articles, and essays on science, literature, and humor.

The years 1910-1918 are currently available online. Established in 1836 as Das Volksblatt, the paper became one of the most popular German-American newspapers in the Midwest. the Volksblatt informed its readers on local and national news, as well as offering a healthy dose of European news, as many people still had family overseas, keeping them apprised of the happenings in the homeland. The paper was published entirely in German, with the exception of some advertisements and the occasional article.

Currently only the years 1894-1910 are available online. Der Deutsche Beobachter ("German Observer") began in 1869 to serve the large German community of New Philadelphia in Ohio's Tuscarawas County and the surrounding areas. The Beobachter was the only German-language paper in the county, which was also home to Schoenbrunn, a mission established by the Moravian Church, and Zoar, a German separatist community. Founded by Frederick Walter and Nicholas Montag, the Democratic publication averaged around 1,000 subscribers annually throughout it's over forty-year existence.

The full run of this newspaper (the years 1846-1851) is available online. The Ohio Staats-bote ("Ohio State-Messenger") supported Democratic politics, and also covered news, agriculture, entertainment, instruction, art, science, and trade.

The years 1834-1836 are available online. The Vaterlandsfreund supported Jacksonian Democratic politics, Hegelian philosophy, and education reform (particularly, the right to use German in schools). The Vaterlandsfreund featured news from abroad; local, state, and national political news and editorials; legal notices; and advertisements for local and regional businesses and events.

The full run of this paper from 1845-1846 is available online. The Vaterlandsfreund featured news from abroad; local, state, and national political news and editorials; legal notices; and advertisements for local and regional businesses and events.

Issues of this paper from 1911-1920 are available online. The Echo: Wochenblatt der Vereinigten Deutschen Socialisten Clevelands ("Weekly of the United German Socialists of Cleveland") was established in Cleveland, Ohio in 1911 and by the United German Branches of the Local Cleveland Socialist Party and later by the German Agitation Committee of the Socialist Party of Ohio. The paper advocated for Marxist reforms, and for the first several months of publication, included an English section titled "Our Political Programme" which outlined the municipal, state, and national issues important to the paper and its readers.

The years 1863-1871 are available online for this paper. Der Westbote ("Western Messenger") served German Democrats both in and out of the state of Ohio and printed local news and news from abroad.

Check this guide for other available newspapers, including some local (e.g the Cincinnati Enquirer), international, and historical newspapers.

Check out the extensive collection in the Magazine and Newspaper Department at the Downtown Main Branch.

This library holds a good selection of Northern Kentucky newspapers at their main branch in Covington, Kentucky.