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 | 4 |
| 1858 | 1 |
| 1859 | 2 |
| 1861 | 4 |
| 1862 | 3 |
| 1863 | 2 |
| 1872 | 5 |
| 1876 | 20 |
| 1877 | 13 |
| 1878 | 5 |
| 1880 | 4 |
| 1882 | 3 |
| 1883 | 22 |
| 1884 | 9 |
| 1885 | 11 |
| 1886 | 8 |
| 1887 | 16 |
| 1888 | 11 |
| 1889 | 23 |
| 1890 | 6 |
| 1891 | 26 |
| 1892 | 39 |
| 1893 | 31 |
| 1894 | 51 |
| 1895 | 75 |
| 1896 | 1 |
| 1897 | 7 |
| 1898 | 7 |
| 1899 | 7 |
| 1900 | 1 |
| 1902 | 2 |
| 1903 | 17 |
| 1904 | 12 |
| 1905 | 1 |
| 1907 | 2 |
| 1908 | 10 |
| 1909 | 18 |
| 1910 | 4 |
| 1911 | 1 |
| 1912 | 1 |
| 1914 | 2 |
| 1915 | 1 |
| 1916 | 7 |
| 1917 | 7 |
| 1923 | 3 |
| 1924 | 1 |
| 1928 | 2 |
| 1929 | 4 |
512 stories matching understand
- Tumwater Secures Its Future With Railroad Deal
Local committee reaches agreement with railroad company for depot, water rights, and machine shops.
- Who Should Keep the Peace in Everett?
As Everett moves to a commission form of government, the local labor movement pushes for a police commissioner who understands industrial unrest rather than one beholden to business interests.
- The 'Odd Fellow' and the Suspicious Wife
A Seattle man's secret late-night meetings with his fraternal order spark a domestic showdown over 'goat riding,' moral uprightness, and marital suspicion.
- A Political Scandal over Bank Receiverships
Local Democrats accuse a Comptroller of corruption after he ignores their requests for patronage appointments in the wake of bank failures.
- Greenbacks Earn Trust in Olympia
Citizens freely exchange Treasury notes for gold at par, signaling local faith in the Union cause.
- The Fight for the Graveyard
Puyallup Indians threaten to dismantle a parsonage built on their burial grounds as tensions over reservation land ownership flare.
- Local Outrage Over Animal Cruelty
A journalist’s beloved greyhound is maliciously shot, sparking a fierce editorial denunciation of the unknown perpetrator.
- The Unpaid Wages of Seattle's Mill Workers
Employees at a local mill face financial desperation after being notified that their promised wages for two weeks of labor cannot be paid.
- Who Cares for the Broken Legged?
A public dispute arises over whether the city physician is obligated to treat emergency cases.
- The Election That Decided Whether Stevens County Would Stay ‘Closed’
A county prosecuting attorney race turned on saloons and law enforcement, with the new officer’s supporters expecting a ‘wide open’ county—prompting a sharp rebuttal from the Newport press.
- Mill Owners Dismiss Japanese Workers for 'Language Barrier'
A local mill owner says he will stick to white labor exclusively after deciding that hiring non-English speaking workers was bad for business.
- Major W. W. Miller’s Wartime Appointment
Local Democrat and loyal Union man W. W. Miller secures a commission as Quartermaster in the volunteer service.
- The Battle for Tacoma's Gravity Water
A multimillionaire financier demands the city act on bonds, but the controller slams the brakes on the project.
- The Midnight Saloon Bill Fails in Olympia
Washington state legislators reject a proposal to force saloons to close at midnight, with some arguing that patrons should be allowed to stay warm by the fire.
- The Governor Wins His Battle for the Capitol Board
The state supreme court rules that Governor McGraw acted within his legal authority to oust commissioner John McReavy.
- Washington Debates Making the Railroad Commission Permanent
Debating the power of the state to regulate railroad monopolies in Washington.
- The Steamboat Scheme to Sneak 10,000 Sheep into Washington
Barred from driving his Oregon flocks through Klickitat County, M. McLennan charters a special steamer to slip them into Skamania County and on to Yakima.
- The Courthouse Architect, the Commissioners, and a $458 Bill Nobody Wants to Pay
The man who designed Thurston County's new courthouse demands the rest of his fee; the commissioners say he broke his contract and has been paid enough.
- A Dog's Bark Saves Sleeping Guests as Usk Hotel Burns
A pre-dawn fire consumed a Usk hotel in 1908, forcing guests to flee with little more than what they wore—and leaving the landlord's watch and money behind.
- Police Chief Declares War on Women
A sweeping raid by Tacoma's Chief of Police forcibly targets Black women, marking the start of a local purge.
- Aberdeen’s Shipbuilding Boom
The S. E. Slade Lumber Company announces plans to build two new vessels in Aberdeen, signaling a surge in local industry.
- The Battle for Seattle's Tide Lands
Powerful legal lobbyists and land speculators are maneuvering to seize control of Seattle's valuable waterfront before the constitutional convention can intervene.
- Democratic Revolt in Washington Territory
Local Democrats are refusing to sign a call for a party convention, citing concerns that the move is secretly bankrolled by railroad interests.
- The Science of Shuddering Earth
A look at the nascent field of seismology and why the earth moves beneath our feet.
- The Unhappy Home of the Chittendens
A husband seeks a divorce after years of allegedly chaotic domestic disputes and his wife's sudden departure.