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 | 53 |
| 1858 | 2 |
| 1859 | 6 |
| 1860 | 12 |
| 1861 | 60 |
| 1862 | 65 |
| 1863 | 44 |
| 1871 | 1 |
| 1872 | 14 |
| 1876 | 10 |
| 1877 | 12 |
| 1878 | 8 |
| 1879 | 4 |
| 1880 | 1 |
| 1882 | 4 |
| 1883 | 39 |
| 1884 | 12 |
| 1885 | 19 |
| 1886 | 11 |
| 1887 | 9 |
| 1888 | 6 |
| 1889 | 58 |
| 1890 | 8 |
| 1891 | 218 |
| 1892 | 194 |
| 1893 | 111 |
| 1894 | 19 |
| 1895 | 112 |
| 1897 | 2 |
| 1899 | 1 |
| 1902 | 1 |
| 1903 | 24 |
| 1904 | 6 |
| 1905 | 1 |
| 1908 | 1 |
| 1909 | 95 |
| 1910 | 7 |
| 1911 | 11 |
| 1912 | 4 |
| 1914 | 11 |
| 1915 | 8 |
| 1916 | 11 |
| 1917 | 3 |
| 1919 | 1 |
| 1922 | 1 |
| 1923 | 13 |
| 1924 | 4 |
| 1925 | 10 |
44 stories
- The Shooting of Editor B. F. Kendall
A prominent local figure and former Superintendent of Indian Affairs is gunned down in his office on Main Street.
- Call for Cavalry Against the Snake Indians
A recruitment drive in Olympia seeks volunteers for the First Regiment of Oregon Cavalry to campaign against Indigenous resistance.
- Oregon Cavalry Recruits 100 Volunteers for Three-Year Service
The federal government calls for volunteers to suppress frontier conflict in Washington Territory.
- Olympia's Close Call with Fire
A dangerous blaze at the Secretary of the Territory's office sparks calls for safer building practices.
- The Plot to Hijack the Revenue Cutter
Confederate sympathizers were rumored to be conspiring to seize a U.S. revenue cutter in the Puget Sound, heightening Civil War tensions in the Pacific Northwest.
- Oregon Cavalry Seeks 100 Volunteers for 1863 Campaign
Recruiting officer Francis Henry announces a call for volunteers to join the Oregon Cavalry, citing the need to secure the frontier against ongoing conflict.
- Oregon Cavalry Recruits Sought for Expedition Against Native People
A recruitment call for the First Regiment of Oregon Cavalry to combat Indigenous resistance on the frontier.
- The Battle for the Cascades Franchise
Legislators trade accusations of 'blackmailing' and 'monopoly' while debating a massive infrastructure bill for the Columbia River.
- Oregon Cavalry Calls for Volunteers to Fight the Snake Indians
Recruiting officer Francis Henry announces a call for cavalrymen to serve in the Washington Territory and Oregon frontiers against the Snake people.
- Call for Cavalry to Patrol the Frontier
The Governor of Oregon calls for volunteers to suppress raids and secure the frontier against the Snake Indians.
- Volunteers Needed for War Against Snake Indians
Recruiting efforts underway in Olympia for the Oregon Cavalry to secure frontier routes and retaliate against ongoing raids.
- Olympia Celebrates the Turning Point of the Civil War
Upon receiving news of Union victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, the capital of Washington Territory erupted in days of wild, illuminated celebration.
- Celebrating the Lunar New Year in 1863
Olympia's Chinese residents celebrated the New Year with traditional firecrackers and tea, an occasion marked by a local editor with a mix of curiosity and cultural commentary.
- Political Conflict in an Olympia Classroom
A student is driven from school after being bullied for his vocal support of the Union.
- The Great Disenfranchisement Fight
Legislators clash over an apportionment bill that threatens to strip the growing eastern population of representation, sparking fears of a political outrage.
- The Violent Expulsion of a Black Resident from Olympia
A white resident publicly recounts his role in forcing a Black man out of town, illustrating the overt racism prevalent in the territory during the Civil War era.
- A New Territory Born from the Gold Fields
As the Idaho Territory is carved from Washington's eastern reaches, residents hope the split will bring order to the Salmon River mining region.
- The 1863 Legislative Session Wraps Up
A look back at the territorial assembly's busy session, featuring a major overhaul of the legal code, debates over the Idaho statehood movement, and the struggles of members waiting on federal pay.
- Call for Cavalry to Protect the Frontier
Oregon and Washington territory officials seek recruits for an expedition against the Snake Indians.
- The Copperhead Election: A Territory Divided
Following a contentious election, the Washington Standard dissects the narrow defeat of the Union candidate and accuses the opposition of disloyalty.
- Volunteers Needed for the Snake Indian Campaign
A call for enlistment in the Oregon Cavalry to combat indigenous resistance on the frontiers of Washington Territory.
- The Heated Debate Over 'Shaving' Greenbacks
Washington Territorial legislators clashed over a bill aimed at criminalizing the devaluation of federal currency, pitting economic protectionism against constitutional theory.
- The First Funeral at the New Presbyterian Church
Reverend Richard J. Evans, who labored to build the new church in Olympia, passed away before he could occupy its pulpit.
- The Battle of the Mail Carriers
A postal contractor hits back at critics who accused him of corruption and canoe-based mail delivery in the rough early days of the territory's infrastructure.
- Lincoln Orders Sale of Washington Public Lands
A sweeping federal proclamation sets the stage for a massive auction of land parcels across the Washington Territory, excluding donation claims and mineral tracts.