Research the archive
Narrow 27,002 newspaper stories by words, years, place, newspaper and subject. See when and where they ran, then download what you find.
Put a phrase in quotes ("rent strike") or leave a word out with a minus (strike -baseball). Old scans misspell names, so when little is found, near-spellings are offered.
Refine2 on
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1854 | 1 |
| 1859 | 1 |
| 1861 | 1 |
| 1862 | 3 |
| 1863 | 3 |
| 1871 | 8 |
| 1872 | 109 |
| 1876 | 535 |
| 1877 | 377 |
| 1878 | 279 |
| 1879 | 15 |
| 1880 | 134 |
| 1882 | 98 |
| 1883 | 508 |
| 1884 | 325 |
| 1885 | 563 |
| 1886 | 359 |
| 1887 | 324 |
| 1888 | 314 |
| 1889 | 800 |
| 1890 | 11 |
| 1891 | 340 |
| 1892 | 1,326 |
| 1893 | 1,600 |
| 1894 | 1,228 |
| 1895 | 1,049 |
| 1896 | 2 |
| 1897 | 8 |
| 1898 | 20 |
| 1899 | 366 |
| 1900 | 6 |
| 1902 | 5 |
| 1903 | 152 |
| 1904 | 69 |
| 1905 | 2 |
| 1907 | 1 |
| 1908 | 2 |
| 1909 | 74 |
| 1910 | 25 |
| 1912 | 1 |
| 1914 | 5 |
| 1915 | 5 |
| 1916 | 27 |
| 1917 | 10 |
| 1923 | 9 |
| 1924 | 11 |
| 1925 | 3 |
| 1928 | 10 |
| 1929 | 15 |
11,139 stories
- The Dramatic Downfall of a Seattle Speculator
After allegedly staging a robbery to cover his mounting financial failures, a prominent political figure and businessman took his own life in his Seattle offices.
- A Mother's Fight Against the Northern Pacific
After her 7-year-old daughter was struck and killed by a train, Mary Ann Evans is suing for $13,035 in damages, alleging company negligence.
- The Death of Whitechapel: Great Northern’s Seattle Land Grab
A major expansion of the Great Northern railway threatens to erase the working-class district of Whitechapel to build a central passenger depot.
- Great Northern Moves to Seize Downtown Blocks
The expanding railway network files suit to condemn an entire city block, displacing residents and businesses in the Whitechapel district.
- Lemuel Holgate, Early Seattle Settler, Dies at 58
Lemuel J. Holgate, who defended the city during the 1856 Indian War, dies at the age of 58.
- The Senator and the Payoff
A Kittitas County legislative candidate’s signed letter reveals a brazen scheme to secure a US Senate seat through financial bribery in Seattle.
- Vigilante Mob Targets Ballard Policeman
A vigilante mob descended on a Ballard home demanding that an acquitted police officer flee the county within 24 hours.
- Two Puyallup Girls Rescued from Trafficking Plot
A local landlady intervenes to save two sisters from a man who lured them to Seattle under the false pretense of employment.
- Phil Dawe's Killing at Copper Chief Goes to Trial
A witness takes the stand to describe the fatal shooting of Phil Dawe on Washington Street.
- A Deadly Domestic Tragedy on James Street
A husband is shot dead in his home during a dispute, leading to the arrest of his wife, who reveals a life of secrets and tragedy.
- The Self-Defense Trial of James Murphy
A Seattle murder trial hinges on claims of a 'dangerous man,' witness bribery, and a life-or-death confrontation in a saloon.
- Ursula Boyd Confessed to Killing Husband Thomas in 1892
A dramatic inquest reveals the final, violent moments of a couple’s fractured marriage.
- The Tragedy at Mrs. Story’s Boarding House
A jealous suitor infiltrates a Seattle residence to commit a double murder, leaving the city in shock over the death of a prominent socialite.
- The Tragic End of Marie Story
A teacher of vocal music is murdered in her Seattle home by an obsessed suitor, sparking a city-wide conversation about stalking and accountability.
- The Great Blizzard of 1892
A historic ten-inch snowfall paralyzes Seattle's transit systems, forces school closures, and creates an eerie, blanketed stillness across Western Washington.
- Streetcar Plunges into Seattle Waterfront
An electric car derails on the North Seattle waterfront, sliding into the tide flats and impaling a passenger on pier pilings.
- The Tragic End of a Seattle Elopement
After abandoning her husband for a volatile lover in a journey to St. Paul, a Seattle woman returns home only to take her own life in a hotel room.
- The Great Park vs. Boulevard Debate
A skeptical citizen challenges the Park Commissioners' grandiose plans for miles of boulevards, calling them an unconstitutional overreach of power.
- The Railway King Comes to Town
James J. Hill, president of the Great Northern Railway, arrives in Seattle to scout terminal sites and plot the future of the city's waterfront.
- The Con Man Who Taught the City a Lesson
A prolific swindler who posed as a businessman and senator-associate leaves a trail of bounced checks and broken promises across Seattle, Tacoma, and Fairhaven.
- 1893 Snowstorm Leaves City Short of Coal and Water
Deep snow blocks the rails and the rivers, leaving Seattle shivering and hungry as coal supplies vanish.
- The Evangelist Who Stood Like a Statue
Mrs. Maria B. Woodworth, a traveling evangelist, brings her 'spiritual anointing' to Seattle despite a historic snowstorm.
- The Great Seattle Freeze-Up
After twelve straight days of record-breaking snowfall, Seattle residents finally see a reprieve as roofs collapse and city transit grinds to a halt.
- The High-Stakes Legal Battle Over Yesler’s Millions
A courtroom drama unfolds as attorneys argue over whether a secret will exists—or if a massive, convoluted conspiracy to defraud the widow is afoot.
- The Unlawful Demolition of a Family Home
A Seattle property owner sues for damages after his house was forcibly torn down and hauled away by a mining company.