A History Speaks Event. Many thanks to our series lead sponsor, First Merchants Bank, and to a grant from UA’s Community Relations Committee that allows us to video record the event.
Founded in 1969 and by 1973 headquartered in Upper Arlington, “CompuServe grew through the 1970s and 1980s into the first major online service in the U.S., offering chat and email to tens of thousands of customers, not to mention helping bring newspapers and stock trading into the digital age. It was known for its entrepreneurial and innovative culture, one which co-founder and former CEO Jeff Wilkins helped spark.” (GeekWire, 2015.)
Jeff will discuss CompuServe’s founding and all of the innovations that CompuServe brought to life: the first commercial email product; the first newspapers online; the first airline listings; and the innovation of the GIF graphics format. Learn how and why AOL was able to become the dominant online service of the 90s.
This is a free-to-attend event. Society members will receive an email a few weeks before the event to reserve seats. Others are welcome on a first-come, first serve basis. Memberships start for as low at $25 / calendar year. Attendees with physical limitations may utilize the parking lot off Fishinger Road for drop-off or parking purposes, as this is closer to the theater. Otherwise, please park in the southern portion of the lot off Reed Road and follow signs to enter the building closer to the theater (located in the Fishinger Road-facing building). Please allow for time to park and walk to the theater prior to our 7pm start time.
Jeff Wilkins was the co-founder and first CEO of CompuServe, perhaps the original consumer online service.
Information from the Ohio Historical Marker dedication ceremony on December 21, 2023. The bronze marker will stand in the median of Arlington Centre Boulevard.
Thanks to the support of our lead series sponsor!