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
- The First Fight of the New City Council
Tacoma's new city council clashes over a proposed pay raise for the foreman of streets, revealing deep divisions over fiscal responsibility.
- A New Boat Hits the Sound
The steamer Dix is successfully launched from the Crawford Reid shipyards in Old Town, marking another milestone for local boat construction.
- Army Training at American Lake
A new target range constructed by soldiers near Hillhurst opens for service, preparing troops for future encampments.
- A New Shipping Route to Alaska Proposed for Tacoma
The Northwestern Commercial Company considers making Tacoma the primary port for its newly refurbished fleet of Alaska-bound liners.
- The Three-Foot Loophole: A Clever Workaround for Tacoma's Gambling Ban
Tacoma's Olympic Club skirts police edicts by raising the floor three feet to technically evade gambling restrictions.
- Social Club’s Liquor License Gambit Fails
A club for 'colored gentlemen' finds their strategy to circumvent licensing laws derailed by a bureaucratic oversight in their incorporation paperwork.
- The Runaway and the Judge's Mercy
After a judge shows leniency to a young bicycle thief, the boy absconds with his brother-in-law's money.
- Street Fight Ends in Court
A long-standing quarrel over an assault leads to a court appearance for a father and his two sons.
- The Bullfighter Who Captured Spokane's Socialites
A Spanish bullfighter finds himself besieged by the social elite and abandons his profession for the attention of local women.
- The Great Balfour Dock Pie Heist
A group of hungry laborers were left with nothing but their pride when two men made off with their dessert, ignoring everything but the pastries.
- Blind Pig Raid at American Lake
Police seize evidence of illicit liquor sales near the rural retreat of American Lake, landing a local man in legal jeopardy.
- Tacoma Shippers Fear for the Shawmut
Global tensions from the Russo-Japanese War reach Tacoma as merchants worry about a local steamship being intercepted.
- A Citizen's Public Protest Against a Councilman
A local resident takes to the newspaper to shame an elected official over his opposition to telephone competition in the city.
- Youths Arrested for Binding Boy Near Interurban Bridge
Two teens were taken into custody after a game of 'play' left a younger boy tied to a structure near the Puyallup River for several hours.
- Street Hustlers Ordered Off Twelfth Street
Tacoma officials move to clear sidewalk congestion caused by street performers and vendors blocking access to the post office.
- City Council Delays Decision on Power Franchise
Tacoma officials postpone a hearing on the Tacoma Railway & Power Company's franchise request, leaving the city's utility future in flux.
- Late Night Hold-Up Near 26th Street
The proprietor of a local drug store is intercepted by an armed robber who spent time casually chatting while searching his pockets.
- A Case of Misspelling
Dr. Royal A. Gove files suit against the Sunset Telephone Company for losing him business after they misspelled his name in the directory.
- State Cracks Down on Deceptive Dairy Practices
Food Commissioner McDonald orders grocers to pull or label condensed milk artificially colored to suggest higher butterfat content.
- A Series of Unfortunate Events on the Sound
Nine Everett hunters endure a harrowing night drifting on the Sound, only to lose their game in a final mishap as they reached home.
- Petty Larceny Trial Ends in Acquittal
Two young men charged with stealing clothes from a saloon patron are released after proving the act was merely a dispute over an unpaid debt.
- Professional Baseball Cracks Down on Foul Language
New rules in the Pacific Coast League threaten fines and termination for players and managers who can't keep their tempers in check.
- Tacoma Takes the Reins of Interurban Rail
Consolidation moves the entire Interurban Electric system operations and repair shops from Kent to Tacoma.
- Vagrant Jailed in South Tacoma
A man found loitering in a private room is sentenced to 25 days by Judge Griffin.
- The City Police Station Turns Into an Impromptu Barbershop
Twenty-six aspiring barbers descended upon police headquarters for a rigorous examination and practical test of their skills.