Westerville, Ohio - The Westerville History Museum now has free text-searchable digital access to 124 years' worth of the local newspaper, Westerville News & Public Opinion (1880-2005).
Previously only available in microfilm format, this project was made possible at no cost to the library thanks to a partnership with Ancestry.com (who owns Newspapers.com) and USA Today Co. (formerly known as Gannett Co. and the current owner of The Columbus Dispatch and the Public Opinion.)
Over 100,000 pages are already available to search, with the full archive estimated to be completed by November 2026.
This digitization project is a big win for the Westerville community and all three organizations. Ancestry.com now has new content to entice subscribers. The Columbus Dispatch research staff and journalists can now keyword search for historic context on a range of topics, from local politicians to city-wide construction projects. And for the Westerville History Museum staff, this will be a significant time saver when doing research for exhibits or by request from the public. Many people rely on the museum’s archives to find out about the history of their home, the accomplishments of a loved one, or nostalgic city favorites from childhood.
“Being able to search the Public Opinion archive fundamentally changes our ability to access Westerville history. We’re learning information about stories we think we know, and that history has largely forgotten. I can’t wait to see how this enriches our exhibits, programs, and ability to provide research support,” says Jackie Barton, Museum Manager for the Westerville History Museum.
The project began with a conversation between the Barton and Michael Shearer (Executive Editor for The Columbus Dispatch) earlier this year. This was a unique situation, since The Columbus Dispatch owns the rights to the Public Opinion archive, but the Westerville History Museum owns the physical archive of issues on microfilm and in print. Shearer suggested that Barton work with the Dispatch’s partners, Newspapers.com, to digitize the collection. This was an extremely beneficial proposition, as it required no financial investment from the museum. Once a contract was signed, Newspapers.com (owned by Ancestry.com) did the work to digitize the microfilm and host the digital files.
“It all happened so fast. We shipped the microfilm rolls off to Utah on July 24 and received word that articles were already available online just two months later. It was so exciting to start searching even before they had finished scanning everything. I immediately searched my current address and found an advertisement for a watch repair business that operated out of my house in 1956. And, of course, I searched my own name and found an article about Westerville North High School students who made the honor roll that semester,” shared Tamara Murray, Marketing Manager for the Westerville Public Library. “It’s also fun to see photos of businesses that are long gone, like the Gold Circle at the old Westerville Mall.”
The Public Opinion went by numerous names until it ceased publication in 2023, including the Westerville Review (1880-1884), Central Ohio Review (1884-1885), Public Opinion (1887-1993), Westerville News and Public Opinion (2005-2012), and ThisWeek Westerville News & Public Opinion (2012-2023). All issues are available through March 2005. However, issues from April 2005-January 25, 2023 are still only available via print copies stored in the Westerville History Museum.
“The digitization of the Public Opinion is a game-changer for all local researchers. Having worked in the Westerville Public Library helping researchers look for family genealogy, information about local businesses, and civic and government events, I have spent countless hours looking through microfiche for information which could have been just a sentence or paragraph in the newspaper which could answer a question. This will make searching a quick and easy process. I am very excited about exploring so many topics of local interest,” shared Beth Weinhardt, President of the Westerville Historical Society.
The digital archive includes:
- Westerville Review (January 7, 1880-June 7, 1884)
- Central Ohio Review (June 14, 1884-May 2, 1885)
- Public Opinion (April 29, 1887-December 31, 1993)
- Westerville News & Public Opinion (January 5, 1994-March 30, 2005)
Westerville News & Public Opinion (March 2005-April 25, 2012) and ThisWeek Westerville News & Public Opinion (April 26, 2012-January 26, 2023) are still only available via print copies stored in the Westerville History Museum.
Museum staff have spent years creating vertical files on popular topics that included newspaper clippings, as well as digitizing marriage announcements and obituaries, but now people can easily find more granular information about topics of interest and see articles within the full context of that week’s issue, revealing who else was getting married at the same time, what restaurants were operating then, and what the local headlines were for that week.
“I cannot tell you how many times I wished for the ability to do a quick search of the Public Opinion. Previously, my volunteers and I would spend hours, if not days, browsing the microfilmed copies just to find one small, but vital, piece of information for our researchers. Now, with just a few keystrokes, I was able to find that the duck got stuck in Professor Grabill's chimney in late April 1950 and was reported in the May 11th edition. This newly digitized resource will be a boon to Westerville and Otterbein researchers,” says Stephen D. Grinch, Archivist for Otterbein University.
Some of the unique things that were published in the paper over time were a list of emergency runs, church notes, streetcar schedules, and "local & personal news" that include entries such as, “Miss Fannie Cooper is in White Cross Hospital for a goitre [sic] operation,” and “Mr. and Mrs. A.A. Griffith and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Kruze left this week on a fishing trip in Michigan.”
All visitors to the Westerville Public Library and Westerville History Museum can enjoy free access to the archive from any public computer inside the building. Those looking to access the Public Opinion archive from home can do so with a paid subscription to Newspapers.com Publish Extra ($19.90 per month as of September 2026). Those without the ability to travel to Westerville can reach out via the museum staff to request research assistance or search the museum’s digital archive at westervillelibrary.org/museum-catalog.
Those looking for a tutorial on how to use this new resource are invited to register for the library’s upcoming event, Westerville Roots: Genealogy & Preservation (part one on November 3 and part 2 on November 24).
To delve further into the history of newspapers and reporting in Westerville, visit the museum's current exhibit - Public Opinion: Beyond the Headlines in Westerville - now through March 31, 2027.
For more information, go to https://westervillelibrary.org/westerville-news-public-opinion
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