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 |
1,126 stories
- Blasting Beneath 14th and A
Contractor C.D. Elmore is drilling into cement gravel to carve out a new foundation for a downtown landmark.
- Police and Civic Union Raid Poker Parlor
A gambling den at a downtown saloon is shuttered by authorities following a local reform effort.
- A Prisoner’s Descent Into Delusion in Everett
A man awaiting extradition for murder in the Everett jail claims to be under a 'divine' sentence, prompting local officials to question his sanity.
- A Honeymoon Near Tragedy at Kalama
A newlywed woman narrowly escapes drowning after falling into the river while returning from a wedding trip.
- Student Rebellion at Pence School
A classroom confrontation at the state line turns physical when a student forcibly takes the teacher's whip.
- The Logging of a Giant for the World's Fair
A massive fir tree from Lewis County is destined for a grand role as an office exhibit at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair.
- Tacoma’s Theaters Face Shutdown Over Fire Safety
Following a disaster in Chicago, Mayor Campbell orders city officials to inspect local entertainment venues for fire hazards.
- Smelter Robbery Leaves Police Baffled
Tacoma authorities search for suspects in a violent hold-up near the smelter, but the trail has gone cold.
- The Jefferson Joins the Fleet
A new steamship built in Tacoma shipyards prepares for its maiden voyage to Alaska, complete with modern refrigeration.
- The Bureaucracy of Getting Hitched
A deputy clerk at the Pierce County courthouse recounts the chaotic, comical, and bureaucratic hurdles faced by couples seeking marriage licenses.
- A Custody Battle Over Indian Children in Tacoma
A legal dispute over the guardianship of children between a divorced Indigenous couple highlights the complexity of family law and property rights.
- The Hunt for the Copley Train Robbers
Detective agencies converge on Seattle in search of three men accused of a brutal train heist and murder in California.
- Slapped Down on the Diamond
Tacoma’s baseball team drops to fourth place after a bruising 12-6 loss to the Seattle Siwashes.
- Merchants Declare War on Trading Stamps
Local business owners organize to reject the popular, yet controversial, loyalty program system.
- New Rail Line to Olympia Planned
The Northern Pacific considers a new shore-line route to Olympia to bypass difficult mountain grades and expand its reach into Tacoma's waterfront.
- The Burnside Returns from Rough Northern Waters
A US cable ship brings back tales of hard seas and the successful integration of Filipino labor.
- Sunday Scuffles and Saloon Culture
Three men arrested for fighting in separate incidents as heat and drink fuel local tensions.
- The Mardi Gras Con Job
Tacoma's city government is accused of selling out to a traveling troupe of mediocre performers after being warned by Seattle newspapers.
- A Industrial Giant Rises on the Waterfront
Tacoma joins forces with a San Francisco milling titan to build a massive new facility.
- The Times Takes on a Traveling Carnival
When a traveling Mardi Gras show arrived in Tacoma with false promises, the local newspaper launched a crusade to protect the public’s wallet.
- A Suspected Arson Fire Wiped Out a Farm's Machinery North of Prescott
The Grote brothers saved only a wagon and some header boxes after $4,000 in equipment burned on the Preston farm.
- City Overhauls Building Code
A special committee proposes sweeping changes to Tacoma's building ordinance to modernize oversight and safety standards.
- A Railroad Rumour Makes Tacoma the Western Hub
A dispatch says the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul plans a Pacific Coast line with headquarters in Tacoma and a Seattle branch—and its agents are already buying land near Wenatchee.
- The Power Struggle Behind City Hall's Doors
Tacoma’s city engineer has been ousted following a refusal to resign, exposing a messy conflict over municipal authority and political control.
- The Captain of the South Seas Swindle
A smooth-talking grifter poses as a wealthy sea captain in Seattle to fleece hotels and merchants, leaving a trail of unpaid bills and fake credentials.