This guide was created to assist those searching for historical information about Upper Arlington and the surrounding areas, and it highlights the unique and varied collection of the Research Department at the Tremont Branch of UAPL.
As always, stop by, email, or call the Research Librarians at (614) 486-3342 if you would like more information about researching Upper Arlington history.
Indexes / Databases
The library’s Online Databases in most cases are available for use at home with your UA Library card number and PIN. Please note: Links to our databases open in a new window or tab in your browser.
UA Archives – This incomparable resource is the Upper Arlington Public Library’s digital library initiative. Through the UA Archives, the library partners with local organizations and individuals to digitally preserve our community’s historical resources and make them available online. Collections in the UA Archives include:
- Norwester Yearbooks
- Norwester Magazines
- Historical Images
- Letters and Memoirs
- City and Village Documents
- Wall of Honor Recipients
- Historical Maps
- Diversity in UA
Upper Arlington News Index – A project of the Upper Arlington Public Library’s Research Department, this index can be used to search articles published from 1983 to the final publication of the Upper Arlington News on April 18, 2012. The Research Room of the Upper Arlington Public Library houses copies of this newspaper, as well as microfilm.
Columbus Dispatch – Archives and Today’s Paper – Provides articles appearing in the Columbus Dispatch from 1871 to the present, including obituaries.
U.S. Major Dailies – Provides access to major national newspapers including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and Chicago Tribune with coverage from the 1980s to the present.
Ancestry Library Edition – In-Library Use Only – If you are in a UA Library location, you can access Ancestry through our Research Tools page. If you are looking into Upper Arlington history for genealogical reasons, dig even deeper with Ancestry.
Heritage Quest Online – Another database for genealogists, this source is available for use outside the library, and includes the entire US Federal Census, PERSI, books and other collections for genealogical researchers.
Research Resources
Copies of the following books on the history of Upper Arlington are always available for use in the Research Department, and a limited number of copies are available for checkout. Follow the catalog links for availability.
- A Cherished Past, A Golden Future: Celebrating the First One Hundred Years of Upper Arlington
- History of Upper Arlington: A Suburb of Columbus Ohio
- Images of America: Upper Arlington
Microfilm of local newspapers, available for use in the Research Department of the Main Library:
- Upper Arlington News (September 1954 – April 2012)
- Citizen Journal (1980 – 1985)
- Columbus Dispatch (1969 – January 2013)
- Tri-Village News (1930-2012)
Current and back issues of local newspapers available for use in the Research Department, with titles including:
- ThisWeek Upper Arlington News
- Columbus Dispatch (Copies are kept for the current year; access to previous articles available on microfilm or through Columbus Dispatch – Archive and Today’s Paper)
- ThisWeek TriVillage News
Journals / Magazines
Some issues of these magazines are available for checkout; most older issues are held in storage in the Research Room of the Tremont Branch. Check the catalog links for more holding information.
- TriVillage Magazine (July/August 2010 – present)
- Columbus Monthly (1975 – present)
- Echoes (1966-present)
- Timeline (1984 – 2018): A publication of the Ohio Historical Society
- Ohio Magazine (1978 – present)
Archives / Special Collections
Upper Arlington and Ohio Collection
The UA Library’s local history collection includes community newspapers, including the Tri-Village News and Upper Arlington News (on microfilm or in storage), the Upper Arlington High School yearbooks (The Norwester) back to 1923, and many more books and periodicals covering Upper Arlington, Columbus, and Ohio history.
Upper Arlington Pamphlet File
Newspaper clippings, booklets, documents, etc. related to Upper Arlington, divided into topics such as Biography, Events, Businesses, City Council, Schools, Parks and Recreation, and more. Located in the Research Department in the lower level of the Main Library. See a Research Librarian to access this collection.
Websites
These recommended websites are chosen by a Reference Librarian as reliable sources of information when researching the history of Upper Arlington and the surrounding area:
Local
- UA Archives
- UA Archives Facebook page
- City of Upper Arlington
- Upper Arlington Historical Society
- Grandview Heights/Marble Cliff Historical Society
- Columbus Neighborhoods
- CML MyHistory
- Franklin County Auditor Property Search
State
Search Starters
See a list of all the titles the UA Library has in its collection on the subject of Upper Arlington and Columbus history by clicking on the following links: