Research the archive
Narrow 25,688 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.
Refine
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1876 | 6 |
| 1877 | 4 |
| 1882 | 1 |
| 1883 | 5 |
| 1884 | 2 |
| 1885 | 4 |
| 1886 | 1 |
| 1888 | 3 |
| 1889 | 5 |
| 1891 | 3 |
| 1892 | 13 |
| 1893 | 12 |
| 1894 | 10 |
| 1895 | 9 |
| 1898 | 1 |
| 1899 | 3 |
| 1903 | 5 |
| 1904 | 3 |
| 1905 | 1 |
| 1908 | 1 |
| 1910 | 1 |
| 1914 | 4 |
| 1915 | 5 |
| 1916 | 2 |
| 1917 | 3 |
| 1918 | 1 |
| 1923 | 1 |
109 stories matching fun
- The Boys in the County Jail
A look inside the cell of four Seattle youths arrested for petty theft, and the cycle of crime they are already trapped in.
- The Boycott Handbills
After anonymous anti-Chinese handbills appear in Seattle, local laborers write to the Post-Intelligencer to clarify their role—and distance themselves from the movement.
- The Great 'Ten-Cent' Grandstand Skirmish
Seattle baseball management deploys canvas walls to block fans watching games for free from outside Madison Street Park.
- The Circus at Ballard City Hall
A local council meeting descends into a chaotic brawl of accusations, slurs, and political grandstanding.
- The Ghost Funeral of Old Tacoma
When the municipal board of the newly consolidated Tacoma decided to spend their final surplus on a booze cruise to Seattle, the 'Queen City' prepared a mock-funeral reception that never materialized.
- A Variety Theatre, a Bundle of Testimonials, and the Preachers Who Wanted It Shut
Seattle's theatrical impresario John Considine fights for a Spokane theatre license against a gallery full of clergymen — and answers them with a who's-who of Seattle's leading names vouching for his honor.
- The Pythian Revels: A Dry Town's Mock Rebellion
While Washington navigates its new prohibition laws, a local fraternal order plans a satirical 'Red Letter' parade to mock the state's dry mandate.
- The Drunken Gunman of Cottman Rooming House
A visiting fruit packer fires four shots through a wall for 'the fun of it,' leaving town before police can reach the scene.
- A Populist Orator, a Sidewalk, and a Penknife
Tacoma police arrested 68-year-old party leader Dolph Hannah for blocking Pacific Avenue with a campaign speech, then released him on his own recognizance after a scuffle.
- The Great Egg Heist: A Drunken Chase Ends in Laughter on Pike Street
When James Quinn grabbed a case of eggs near First Avenue, Officer Cameron gave chase with drawn revolver—only for the 'thief' to surrender with a request for a cigarette.
- The Great Cascade: A Pilgrimage to the Roar of Snoqualmie Falls
In July 1877, three travelers walked the rugged trail from Snohomish to Fall City, documenting the lush farms, the hospitality of settlers, and the awe-inspiring power of the falls—a testament to the beauty and isolation of early Washington Territory.
- The Sunday Ballot: How Kennewick’s Baseball League Was Born (and Who Got Left Out)
In April 1914, local businessmen gathered at the Commercial Hotel to launch a new Valley baseball league. But as they celebrated the formation of the team, a quiet but significant exclusion was taking place: players bound by religious vows were barred from the field.
- The Yellow Glove Standoff on San Juan Island
When American informality faced British stiff-upper-lip formality in a frontier courtroom, a pair of gaudy kid gloves settled the diplomatic score.
- The Bachelor's Ruse: A Victorian Love Game in Seattle
A lonely Seattle bachelor attempts to 'test' his ward’s character through a series of elaborate, scholarly letters, only to find himself the one being studied.
- The Tragedy at the Snoqualmie Ford
A day of innocent fun turned to horror at North Bend when a wagon crossing the river was swallowed by the current, claiming a young boy's life.
- The Most Glamorous Night in 1892 Seattle
When the city's high society gathered at Ranke's Hall to watch a 'cake-walk' for the benefit of the African Methodist Episcopal church.
- Racing Steamers and Rough Seas: The Edmonds Commuter's Grievance
In 1892, residents of Edmonds clashed with boat captains who, in their rush to win the Puget Sound speed wars, were leaving passengers stranded on the docks.
- The City’s Cigarette Ban Hits a Snag
A federal judge rules the local anti-cigarette law unconstitutional, leaving shopkeepers in a cloud of confusion.
- The Sad Tale of a Mail-Order Marriage
A romantic courtship by mail ended in divorce, a sheriff's sale, and a supreme court battle over a farm in Leland Valley.
- The Bathtub Comedy That Saved the Day
A struggling young couple in a Seattle play find their only salvation in a piece of furniture that isn't quite what it seems.
- The Misfortune of Mr. Krats
A local land office official takes a tumble on Yakima Avenue and takes his frustration out on an innocent dog.
- Twenty Clowns, Cloth Elephants, and a College Circus at the Armory
Whitman students and the Walla Walla Band plan four nights of acrobats, side shows and pink lemonade — with a hired professional troupe to keep it honest.
- John L. Sullivan Comes to Olympia, and the City Council Adjourns for the Show
The heavyweight champion and the Pacific Coast’s great theatrical manager packed the Olympia Theater, traded jokes about brick opera houses, and drew the mayor and nearly every councilman into the audience.
- The Heckler Who Fell Flat
A political agitator's attempt to disrupt a Seattle campaign rally on Pioneer Place ends in a literal tumble.
- The Thief Who Crawled into a Hole
A petty shoplifting chase leads to an absurd standoff underneath a downtown storefront.