Ohio River Valley Innovation Library and Learning Enrichment
ORVILLE is dedicated to discovering, digitizing, and disseminating historical information related to a broad spectrum of innovations within the Ohio River Valley, and to supporting educational and scholarly efforts to chronicle and publicize the region’s innovation history.
Project Partners
Visit our partners to learn more about the Ohio River Valley.
Ohio River Way
The Ohio River Way is pursuing an Ohio River Valley renowned for its vibrant communities, opportunities for exploration and recreation, and high quality of life.
University of Kentucky
Documenting Racial Violence in Kentucky Project.
Collections:
Cincinnati Enquirer Photo Archive
The Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library’s collection contains more than a million photographs created by the newspaper’s staff photographers between 1945 and 1995.
Faces & Places
Over 100,000 photographs of the people and places of Northern Kentucky and surrounding areas.
Inland Rivers Library
The Inland Rivers Library offers a wealth of material documenting more than two hundred years of river history—from flatboats and keelboats, to the grand era of steamboats, to today’s diesel-powered vessels.
Kenton County Public Library Genealogy
Visit the KCPL Local History & Genealogy department online or in-person to explore their vast collections.
Sons & Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen
Established in 1939 to perpetuate the memory of Pioneer Rivermen and for the preservation of river history.
Cincinnati Photos & Prints
The Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library’s Cincinnati Photo & Print File contains over 1,500 images related to Cincinnati history,
Index of Black Inventors
Browse an index of black inventors by state or country of residence from 1834-2008.
Our Rich History
A weekly series written by Paul A. Tenkotte, PhD and Professor of History and Gender Studies at Northern Kentucky University (NKU).
Historic Pittsburgh
Primary and secondary sources about the greater Pittsburgh region
Documentaries & Videos
Find videos about the Ohio River & surrounding region.
Lloyd Library
The Eclectic Medical Institute, later known as the Eclectic Medical College, operated from 1845 to 1942 in downtown Cincinnati. Eclecticism, a medicinal movement based in noninvasive therapies and healing practices, was popular during the late 19th century and into the 20th century.
View all Collections
PROJECTS:
- The ORVILLE learning website is a clearinghouse for resources about the Ohio River watershed. Let us know if you would like us to add your organization’s links.
- Digitization: Scanning and digitizing photos, illustrations, media, booklets/ephemera, books, and collections important to the telling of the story of innovation in the Ohio River watershed. Link to Photo Uploads
- Research and Scholarship:
3-volume series entitled, Innovation Gateway: The Ohio River Valley and the Making of America. We’re seeking chapter authors.
- Education, K-12: Proposed lesson plans, tied to state standards, relating to a range of innovation topics in the Ohio River watershed. We’re seeking teachers and proposals.
WE INVITE YOUR PARTICIPATION:
Contact Dr. Paul Tenkotte for more information