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 |
1,332 stories
- The High Cost of the Short Haul
Northern Pacific updates freight tariffs, sparking debate on the economics of farm-to-rail transport.
- The Battle Over Stubblefield’s Will
Arkansas heirs launch a second equity suit to dismantle a $151,000 charitable trust intended for orphans and widows.
- A Bequest for Orphans Caught in Legal Limbo
Local community leaders push to settle a will contest that threatens the establishment of the Stubblefield home for indigent widows and orphans.
- The Price of a Fire
A local merchant sues an insurance company after a warehouse blaze leaves him empty-handed.
- Prisoner Transferred Through Walla Walla
A convicted man is held in the city on his way to the state penitentiary after a trial in Goldendale.
- The Ghost Gold of the Walla Walla River
After decades of myth and failed searches by mechanics and clairvoyants, a farmer finally unearths a long-lost cache of scout gold.
- A Desperate Chase Near Touchet
Two young boys accused of robbing a farmhouse are captured after a five-mile foot chase.
- The Monster of Whatcom Creek
A massive devilfish caught in a dredging machine causes a stir among mill workers and local Indigenous paddlers.
- The Patent War Over the Electric Bath Robe
A public spat between a Spokane physician and an local 'professor' reveals the cutthroat market for pseudo-scientific wellness devices.
- Greening the City Park
Chairman McLean works to beautify Walla Walla's public spaces while protecting a new local quail colony.
- Battle Over School Board Authority
Critics challenge the school board’s decision to bypass public votes on construction projects and land purchases.
- A Home for the Vulnerable
The Ladies' Relief Society pledges its property on South Second Street to anchor a new orphanage and home for the elderly.
- General Frederick Funston Inspects Fort Walla Walla
The decorated veteran of the Spanish-American and Philippine-American wars arrives in town for an official inspection of the local military post.
- A Gushing Future at Deep River?
A discovery of high-grade petroleum gas in Washington state sparks dreams of a regional energy boom.
- Walla Walla's Baseball Fever
Local boosters push for a unique night game under electric lights to keep the team solvent and engaged in the Inland League.
- Banking Fallout from School Bond Mess
Local business leaders back away from an informal agreement to cover school district debt as the legal validity of the warrants is questioned.
- The Post Office Con-Artist
Authorities warn merchants of a sophisticated swindler operating across Washington by altering post office money orders.
- Pioneer Dies in Tragic Railway Accident near Crocker
A longtime Tacoma resident meets a sudden, grisly death under a freight train, leaving behind a mystery about his presence on the tracks.
- The Widow and the Detective
A 64-year-old Spokane woman sues to recover property and mining stock she claims were stolen from her through gross fraud.
- The Unlucky Return of Alexander Fachant
A Frenchman who forfeited a $2,000 bond believing he was free finds that federal law has a longer reach than he expected.
- The Circus Impostor
A grifter posing as a Ringling Brothers advance man is caught in Astoria after swindling local meat merchants.
- Local Official and Laborer Face Prison Time
A road supervisor is sentenced for betraying public trust while a man is sent to the penitentiary for grand larceny.
- The Milk Adulteration Scandal
A Seattle dairyman is fined for using formaldehyde as a preservative in his milk supply.
- The Fight Against Walla Walla’s Bicycle Tax
While the Supreme Court has deemed special vehicle taxes unconstitutional, Walla Walla cyclists continue to pay up for the sake of path maintenance.
- The Barber's Great Escape
A local barber skips town, leaving behind a mountain of debt, a jilted wife, and a lover, all while chasing a lifestyle he couldn't afford.