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 | 1 |
| 1859 | 6 |
| 1860 | 12 |
| 1861 | 58 |
| 1862 | 65 |
| 1863 | 44 |
| 1871 | 1 |
| 1872 | 14 |
| 1876 | 9 |
| 1877 | 11 |
| 1878 | 7 |
| 1879 | 3 |
| 1882 | 3 |
| 1883 | 35 |
| 1884 | 11 |
| 1885 | 18 |
| 1886 | 10 |
| 1887 | 9 |
| 1888 | 6 |
| 1889 | 57 |
| 1890 | 8 |
| 1891 | 212 |
| 1892 | 184 |
| 1893 | 105 |
| 1894 | 17 |
| 1895 | 111 |
| 1897 | 2 |
| 1899 | 1 |
| 1902 | 1 |
| 1903 | 23 |
| 1904 | 5 |
| 1905 | 1 |
| 1908 | 1 |
| 1909 | 94 |
| 1910 | 7 |
| 1911 | 11 |
| 1912 | 4 |
| 1914 | 11 |
| 1915 | 8 |
| 1916 | 11 |
| 1917 | 3 |
| 1919 | 1 |
| 1922 | 1 |
| 1923 | 13 |
| 1924 | 2 |
| 1925 | 10 |
1,280 stories
- The grueling, mountain-carving work of mapping the Puget Sound
A survey crew spends the summer hacking paths through the dense, uncharted forests of the Olympic Peninsula and Straits of Fuca to measure the rugged frontier.
- The Struggle for Equitable Taxation in Early Washington
An open letter from 1878 explores the difficulties of managing state revenue and the inherent failures of centralized 'equalization' boards.
- Preparing for the Territorial Vote
Governor Elisha P. Ferry issues a formal proclamation for the November 1876 general election, including a critical vote on whether to draft a new State Constitution.
- The Unsinkable 'Old Settler' of the Olympia Tide-Flats
An enterprising Olympia pioneer launches a custom-built, shallow-draft vessel to dominate the local oyster trade.
- The Price of a Capitol Seat
When the Territorial Legislature convened in Olympia, residents hiked rent to price gouge the lawmakers, sparking a legislative push to abandon the capital city.
- Olympia prepares for Governor McGraw's inauguration
As Washington transitions from its first state administration to the next, the capital is bustling with political maneuvering and preparations for the ceremony.
- The $10,000 Practical Joke on Representative Judson
Legislators in Olympia pull a prank by forging a bill in the name of an unsuspecting Representative, only to have it officially recorded in the House journal.
- The Rising Well of Olympia
A local well is mysteriously emerging from the ground, brick by brick, defying gravity and logic.
- The State's Dairy 'Boarders' Problem
Agricultural Commissioner H. T. Graves warns that one-third of Washington's dairy cows are failing to pay their keep.
- The Great Butter Hoax of 1859
A classic tall tale of rancid butter, two tipsy pioneers, and an elaborate prank on a local tavern keeper in Olympia.
- Olympia Votes on Its First Public Square
Citizens overwhelmingly approve donating land for county buildings during a 1861 municipal election.
- Paying the Volunteers of the Indian Wars
A federal act authorizes millions to compensate the Washington and Oregon volunteer regiments who fought in the 1855-1856 Indian Wars.
- The Bread and Water Diet
An Olympia man decides to test a traveling lecturer's advice on eating, but his wife has the final say.
- The Federal Crackdown on Alcohol Sales to Indigenous Tribes
Superintendent Calvin H. Hale issues a stern warning to traders violating federal statutes against selling liquor on reservations.
- Federal Warning on Liquor and Unlicensed Trade
The Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Washington Territory issues a stern directive against the illicit sale of alcohol and unauthorized trading on reservations.
- Federal Crackdown on Liquor Trade with Tribes
The Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Washington Territory warns traders that liquor trafficking on reservations is a serious federal offense.
- The Unlikely Enforcer of a Party Game
A jealous husband at a frontier social insists his young wife receives equal attention—or else he will settle the matter with his fists.
- Volunteers Sought for Oregon Cavalry
Recruitment call for the First Regiment of Oregon Cavalry to combat Indigenous resistance in the Washington Territory frontier.
- The State's Long-Overdue Debt to Country Editors
After months of carrying the state's land sale advertisements on credit, Washington's rural newspapers are finally seeing a payout.
- The President's Vision for the Republic
Franklin Pierce delivers an annual message outlining trade, territory, and the state of the American Union in 1853.
- The Territory's Mismatched Mail
A collapse in mail delivery leaves residents in the dark as federal contracts fall into chaos.
- The Mail Carrier’s Drunken Folly
A mail carrier abandons his duties after getting intoxicated, leaving the territory's correspondence scattered in his wake.
- Protecting the Tools of the Trade
Territorial legislators debate how much property a settler should be allowed to keep safe from debt collectors.
- Settling Up for the Indian Wars
A breakdown of the federal government's payment schedule for property and services used during the conflicts of 1855-1856.
- Mapping the Road to Monticello
Commissioners finish surveying a new route from Olympia to the Cowlitz River, planning to bridge the gap between territorial settlements.