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.
Refine1 on
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1854 | 4 |
| 1859 | 2 |
| 1861 | 5 |
| 1862 | 10 |
| 1863 | 6 |
| 1864 | 1 |
| 1872 | 8 |
| 1876 | 31 |
| 1877 | 19 |
| 1878 | 13 |
| 1879 | 1 |
| 1880 | 3 |
| 1882 | 4 |
| 1883 | 28 |
| 1884 | 10 |
| 1885 | 20 |
| 1886 | 7 |
| 1887 | 13 |
| 1888 | 11 |
| 1889 | 47 |
| 1890 | 13 |
| 1891 | 64 |
| 1892 | 165 |
| 1893 | 149 |
| 1894 | 147 |
| 1895 | 138 |
| 1897 | 2 |
| 1898 | 5 |
| 1899 | 26 |
| 1900 | 5 |
| 1903 | 84 |
| 1904 | 42 |
| 1905 | 4 |
| 1908 | 10 |
| 1909 | 70 |
| 1910 | 22 |
| 1911 | 10 |
| 1912 | 5 |
| 1914 | 28 |
| 1915 | 19 |
| 1916 | 40 |
| 1917 | 23 |
| 1918 | 1 |
| 1922 | 1 |
| 1923 | 15 |
| 1924 | 6 |
| 1925 | 5 |
| 1929 | 1 |
47 stories matching fund
- The Spokane Relief Scandal
Accusations emerge that funds meant for fire victims were diverted to municipal infrastructure projects.
- Seattle’s Moral Heart: The Push for a YMCA Temple
As the city grows, local leaders launch a fundraising drive to build a permanent home for the Young Men's Christian Association, arguing that Seattle needs more than just commerce—it needs character.
- The Express Messenger Who Borrowed the Company’s Cash
A Wells Fargo messenger in Tacoma finds himself in a pickle after a 'borrowed' funds scandal lands him in hot water with his superintendent.
- The Library Ball that Defined 1889 Seattle
High society gathers at the First Regiment Armory to fund the Yesler Library, marking a glittering return to the social calendar after the solemnity of Lent.
- The City That Couldn't Pay Its Bills: Seattle’s Fiscal Crisis and the Fight for Expansion
Mayor Moran and Councilman Dane plead with citizens to understand why street paving is stalled and sewer plans are shelved—not from laziness, but because state law caps the city's debt just as the population doubles.
- The Peril of Volunteer Firefighters in 1889 Seattle
As the city rapidly expands, the fire chief warns that an unpaid, disorganized volunteer force leaves Seattle’s growing wooden skyline at the mercy of every spark.
- The Altar Society’s High-Stakes Carnival
Seattle society turned out for a church fundraiser that featured fortune-telling gypsies, a 'fishpond,' and one overly enthusiastic patron who nearly pawned his watch for ice cream.
- The Church-Sponsored Prizefight
A local church in Seattle raises funds by selling tickets to a boxing match between two Black men, sparking a cynical editorial critique.
- From Two Rooms to a Building Fund: The YMCA’s Early Expansion in Seattle
Three years after arriving in Seattle, Secretary George Carter reflects on the YMCA’s transformation from a struggling group in a pair of rented rooms to a city institution with grand building ambitions.
- Spokane Relief Funds Vanish
A local official jumps bail after being accused of stealing supplies meant for the relief of those in need.
- A Desperate End on 11th Street
After struggling to find work for two months, a Nebraska settler dies by suicide in his boarding house room.
- The Forgotten Family on the Garret Floor
An impoverished immigrant family, suffering from diphtheria in a cramped Seattle attic, highlights the desperate housing conditions facing newcomers in 1889.
- A Night Out for the Carpenters' Union
A local labor union throws a fundraiser to stock their Second-street library, proving that even in the bustling 1890s, workers prioritized access to knowledge.
- The Art of the Vanishing Embezzler
A Los Angeles mill employee absconds with funds, hides out in Seattle under an alias, and stays one step ahead of the detectives in a city-wide cat-and-mouse game.
- Fire and Rent
A judge rules against tenants whose homes burned down, sparking an uproar in the jury box.
- Ellensburg, Olympia and Yakima Vie for Capital
As Washington prepares for statehood, a vicious battle erupts between Yakima, Ellensburg, and Olympia over which city deserves to be the capital.
- The Denny Hotel: Seattle’s Grand Bet on Itself
As the city raises nearly $100,000 to build a luxury hotel, workers break ground for excavation, signaling a new era of civic ambition and commercial confidence.
- The Court House Conflict
King County officials struggle to seize property for the new courthouse as tenants refuse to vacate.
- The Anonymous Libel: A Letter from Chicago Targets Seattle's Legal Elite
An anonymous circular alleging that prominent lawyer J.C. Haines absconded with estate funds in Chicago is circulating through Washington Territory, sparking a fierce defense of his character by local allies.
- Shelton’s Crumbling Infrastructure Battle
Citizens are left to 'go to thunder' after the City Board funnels the town's remaining street funds into a bridge project that disproportionately benefits the members themselves.
- The Maid Who Stole the Hidalgo’s Gold
A young woman’s romantic deception in Quiggletown backfires when her maid decides to take the suitor, the dowry, and the partnership for herself.
- The Railway Race for the Wheat Fields
A major expansion of the Oregon Improvement Company’s rail network aims to link Seattle directly to Eastern Washington’s wheat belt, setting the stage for a showdown between rival railroad titans.
- The Shadow of the Railroad: Tide Lands and Public Trust
As Washington state's constitutional convention drags on, delegates engage in a fierce legislative showdown over the fate of public tide lands, pitted against powerful rail and improvement corporations.
- The Growing Pains of North Yakima
A surging population leads to a heated debate over school funding and where the next district building should be placed.
- The Great Courthouse Turf War
A boisterous public meeting pits North Seattle against the old guard over where to build the county's new courthouse.