Exhibit 5


                   [Letterhead of Keating, Muething & Klekamp]


                                November 7, 1996


Direct Dial:  (513) 579-6411


The Standard Register Company
600 Albany Street
Dayton, Ohio   45401

Dear Sir or Madam:

     We serve as counsel to The Standard  Register  Company (the  "Company") and
are  familiar  with its  Articles  of  Incorporation,  Code of  Regulations  and
corporate  proceedings  generally.  We have reviewed the corporate records as to
the  establishment  of the  Company's  Stock  Option  Plan (the  "Plan") and the
issuance of up to 2,000,000  shares of Common  Stock,  $1.00 par value per share
(the "Common Stock"), of The Standard Register Company to employees.  Based upon
such examination and considerations, we are of the opinion:

     1.   That the Company is a duly organized and validly existing  corporation
          under the laws of the State of Ohio; and

     2.   That the  Company  has  taken all  necessary  and  required  corporate
          actions in  connection  with the proposed  issuance of up to 2,000,000
          shares of Common  Stock in  accordance  with the Plan and that  Common
          Stock,  when so issued and delivered,  will be validly  issued,  fully
          paid and non-assessable shares of Common Stock of the Company.

     We  hereby  consent  to be  named  in the  Registration  Statement  and the
Prospectus  part thereof as the  attorneys who have passed upon legal matters in
connection with the issuance of the aforesaid  Common Stock and to the filing of
this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

                                             Yours truly,

                                             KEATING, MUETHING & KLEKAMP, P.L.L.



                                             BY:  /s/Gary P. Kreider
                                                ------------------------------
                                                     Gary P. Kreider