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.
Refine
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1854 | 2 |
| 1861 | 1 |
| 1862 | 1 |
| 1864 | 2 |
| 1872 | 2 |
| 1876 | 8 |
| 1877 | 8 |
| 1878 | 8 |
| 1880 | 3 |
| 1883 | 5 |
| 1884 | 2 |
| 1885 | 4 |
| 1887 | 6 |
| 1888 | 3 |
| 1889 | 13 |
| 1890 | 1 |
| 1891 | 20 |
| 1892 | 24 |
| 1893 | 15 |
| 1894 | 20 |
| 1895 | 29 |
| 1897 | 3 |
| 1898 | 2 |
| 1899 | 4 |
| 1902 | 2 |
| 1903 | 4 |
| 1904 | 5 |
| 1908 | 1 |
| 1909 | 10 |
| 1910 | 3 |
| 1911 | 3 |
| 1912 | 1 |
| 1914 | 2 |
| 1915 | 2 |
| 1916 | 6 |
| 1922 | 1 |
| 1923 | 2 |
228 stories matching merit
- A Financial Crossroads for Kennewick
Voters weigh the merits of refunding high-interest city warrants to avoid fiscal catastrophe.
- The City Waterworks Scandal
Tacoma citizens call out a grand jury for failing to investigate alleged bribery in the million-dollar city waterworks purchase.
- The Jailhouse Cartoonist
A talented prisoner turns scraps of cardboard into caricatures of local officials, revealing a hidden history of talent behind bars.
- The Asylum for Impecunious Politicians
A satirical look at the backroom deals, bribery, and state-level corruption behind the selection of a new government institution site in Yakima.
- Forging Checks for Unrequited Love
A local laborer's desperate attempt to cope with a broken heart leads to a criminal spree.
- Judge Hanford and the Legal Battle for Exclusion
A federal judge asserts authority over state court interference in the deportation of Chinese individuals arriving in Tacoma.
- The Corruption of the College Location
North Yakima residents fume over the 'corrupt' decision to place the state agricultural college in Pullman rather than the Yakima Valley.
- The Shame of Seattle's City Jail
A grand jury investigation into Seattle’s penal system reveals a crumbling facility plagued by filth, corruption, and the disappearance of evidence.
- Ellensburg, Olympia and Yakima Vie for Capital
As Washington prepares for statehood, a vicious battle erupts between Yakima, Ellensburg, and Olympia over which city deserves to be the capital.
- The Search for the Perfect Late-Season Cherry
Horticulturists in Washington are celebrating the discovery of two new, hardy cherry varieties that could outshine the Bing.
- Dr. Hannibal Mills and the Self-Impelling Motor
An aspiring inventor blames 'poison rum' for his recent legal troubles and pleads his case in the newspaper.
- The Library Overwhelmed
Seattle's public library is struggling to keep pace with an insatiable public, as staff and patrons debate the merits of a complex new cataloging system.
- City Council Settles Deadly Runaway Claim
A tragic workplace accident leads to a $750 settlement after the city is sued for the death of an employee.
- The Crackdown on 'Fast Riding' in Old Seattle
When rowdy horsemen turned Front Street into a racetrack, the city police decided the era of reckless riding in the city center had to end.
- The Price of Public Space
North Yakima officials consider abandoning a gift of 20 acres to the city, sparking a clash between land donors and the council.
- Bicycle Feats and Gymnastics at the Armory
Champion W. S. Maltby dazzles Seattle crowds with daring cycle stunts and comedy routines.
- Chamber of Commerce Fights to Keep its Restaurant
Seattle's business elite debates the merits of maintaining a members-only dining room while scouting for a new headquarters in the rapidly shifting downtown core.
- Memorial Day Parades and Politics
Seattle celebrated Memorial Day with a massive procession and a theater program, where speakers linked the memory of Union veterans to modern anxieties over labor unrest and immigration.
- The Populist Revolt in King County
King County Populists hold a fiery convention, demanding an end to the poll tax, attacking 'Pinkertonian' strikebreakers, and debating the merits of local newspapers.
- The Puget Sound Smuggling Ring Scandal
A government inspector uncovers a vast operation allegedly smuggling Chinese migrants and opium into the Pacific Northwest, implicating customs officials and steamship lines.
- State Senate Kills Eight-Hour Bill for Women Workers
Everett labor leaders blast the State Senate for killing protections for working women.
- The Struggle for One Big Union
Labor organizers weigh the merits of craft unions against the rising 'one big union' movement in the railroad industry.
- U.S. Supreme Court Rules Against Private Tide Land Claims
A landmark decision solidifies the state's control over waterfront property, ending years of speculation via 'Valentine scrip'.
- The Water Superintendent’s Public Feud
Seattle’s Water Superintendent fires back at claims of mismanagement, launching a sprawling, finger-pointing defense of his department’s books.
- The Council Seat That Went to Court
After Blake outpolled Morris in December, the city council seated Morris anyway. Judge Langley rules that the courts, not the council, must decide who really won.