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 | 62 |
| 1858 | 29 |
| 1859 | 52 |
| 1860 | 27 |
| 1861 | 101 |
| 1862 | 87 |
| 1863 | 69 |
| 1864 | 32 |
| 1865 | 11 |
| 1871 | 11 |
| 1872 | 140 |
| 1876 | 812 |
| 1877 | 678 |
| 1878 | 526 |
| 1879 | 64 |
| 1880 | 180 |
| 1882 | 130 |
| 1883 | 911 |
| 1884 | 499 |
| 1885 | 838 |
| 1886 | 492 |
| 1887 | 484 |
| 1888 | 440 |
| 1889 | 1,324 |
| 1890 | 287 |
| 1891 | 1,115 |
| 1892 | 2,855 |
| 1893 | 2,829 |
| 1894 | 2,116 |
| 1895 | 1,830 |
| 1896 | 2 |
| 1897 | 62 |
| 1898 | 196 |
| 1899 | 446 |
| 1900 | 114 |
| 1902 | 34 |
| 1903 | 1,332 |
| 1904 | 1,126 |
| 1905 | 124 |
| 1907 | 53 |
| 1908 | 351 |
| 1909 | 1,545 |
| 1910 | 413 |
| 1911 | 160 |
| 1912 | 73 |
| 1914 | 261 |
| 1915 | 300 |
| 1916 | 545 |
| 1917 | 332 |
| 1918 | 45 |
| 1919 | 5 |
| 1920 | 1 |
| 1922 | 18 |
| 1923 | 185 |
| 1924 | 151 |
| 1925 | 64 |
| 1928 | 14 |
| 1929 | 19 |
4,679 stories
- The Thief Who Left His Loot Under the Wharf
A desperate ex-convict confesses to a string of violent robberies after being tracked to a dark, desolate crawlspace beneath Seattle's waterfront.
- An Anonymous Threat in Everett
A local bank janitor receives a typed, skull-and-crossbones threat to leave town or face accusations from his past.
- A Judge's Declaration of War Against Corporate Corruption
Federal Judge Grosscup denounces the 'polite swindlers' of Wall Street, sparking a local debate on the influence of railroad lobbyists in Washington state.
- Show Business Solidarity for a Local Acrobat
When an aerialist and her husband faced medical catastrophe, the community rallied for a benefit show at the park.
- The Unlikely Plea for a Young Man’s Pardon
A convicted man at the state penitentiary steps forward to clear his accomplice, arguing that he was the sole criminal mastermind and his partner was merely a pawn.
- The City Council’s Red Light Dilemma
Walla Walla officials discuss zoning 'houses of ill fame' away from residential districts after a formal complaint.
- Local Chinese Gardener Targeted for Deportation
Wong Look, a Walla Walla resident of ten years, faces expulsion after being unable to produce his registration certificate.
- The Mother-Son Counterfeiting Ring
A woman with a criminal past and her son are caught after operating a makeshift mint out of their homes in Des Moines and Tacoma.
- Jailed for a Five Dollar Debt
A Spokane barber finds himself behind bars after a landlady uses criminal law to settle a civil board bill.
- The Strange End of the Miser of Sunset
After decades of isolation in a tiny cabin on the Palouse, a recluse's massive estate is finally divided among heirs he spent a lifetime shunning.
- The Tragedy of a Lonely Soul
A local eccentric is found dead in Mill Creek, sparking a somber realization about his hidden struggles and poverty.
- The 'Strong-Arm' Sentencing of Patrick J. Murphy
A Seattle judge delivers a 15-year sentence for a robbery, signaling a crackdown on street violence and the dangers of the 'strong-arm' hold-up.
- The High Cost of Progress in Seattle
Property owners on Pike Street are challenging the city council, arguing that if their land was damaged by regrading, they shouldn't be taxed for the 'benefits' of the improvement.
- A Desperate Act in Waitsburg
A young woman is found unconscious after ingesting carbolic acid, sparking local debate over whether the act was a tragic mistake or a suicide attempt.
- The End of Fort Walla Walla
General Funston recommends abandoning the Walla Walla garrison, citing it has 'outlived its usefulness.'
- The Strategic Sabotage of Sunday Closing Laws
When Wenatchee saloon owners were pressured to close on Sundays, the statewide Liquor Dealers’ Protective Association advised a calculated move: force every business in town to close, too, and wait for public frustration to boil over.
- Streetcar Tragedy Lands Record Damages
After years of litigation, a laborer injured in a Seattle streetcar barn wins an unprecedented $20,000 judgment against the city's electric company.
- Mental Health Crisis in Prescott
A man’s history of institutionalization clashes with inadequate mental healthcare services in the rural community.
- The Price of a Homestead
A local teacher faces the loss of her land claim after government inspectors rule she prioritized her career in town over the requirements of the Homestead Act.
- Violent Windstorm Shreds Walla Walla County Infrastructure
A sudden, shifting gale rips roofs from elevators and destroys miles of railroad sand fencing across the valley.
- The Trial of the 'Mayor of Little St. Petersburg'
A Walla Walla man stands accused of perjury in a federal case involving the citizenship of local Russian immigrants.
- The False Heir of Tacoma
A young woman's desperate scheme to secure her marriage leads to a surrogate child and a city-wide scandal.
- The Political Feud Over Adam Schmidt’s Perjury Conviction
A fiery local editorial clash exposes the bitter rift between competing political machines in Walla Walla.
- The Barber of Walla Walla’s Trail of Ruin
After abandoning his wife and children to a life of poverty, a local barber's volatile affair in Spokane ends in an arrest.
- A Milestone in Walla Walla Real Estate
Lee Gee, the proprietor of the Eagle restaurant, becomes the first Chinese resident in Walla Walla to purchase property, planning a two-story brick building.