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 | 7 |
| 1858 | 4 |
| 1859 | 16 |
| 1860 | 3 |
| 1861 | 9 |
| 1862 | 14 |
| 1863 | 8 |
| 1864 | 1 |
| 1865 | 1 |
| 1871 | 2 |
| 1872 | 20 |
| 1876 | 103 |
| 1877 | 102 |
| 1878 | 56 |
| 1879 | 6 |
| 1880 | 21 |
| 1882 | 18 |
| 1883 | 111 |
| 1884 | 65 |
| 1885 | 152 |
| 1886 | 83 |
| 1887 | 56 |
| 1888 | 53 |
| 1889 | 154 |
| 1890 | 26 |
| 1891 | 147 |
| 1892 | 303 |
| 1893 | 324 |
| 1894 | 436 |
| 1895 | 420 |
| 1896 | 1 |
| 1897 | 6 |
| 1898 | 28 |
| 1899 | 62 |
| 1900 | 16 |
| 1902 | 5 |
| 1903 | 149 |
| 1904 | 128 |
| 1905 | 9 |
| 1907 | 11 |
| 1908 | 55 |
| 1909 | 203 |
| 1910 | 54 |
| 1911 | 14 |
| 1912 | 4 |
| 1914 | 21 |
| 1915 | 18 |
| 1916 | 49 |
| 1917 | 43 |
| 1918 | 2 |
| 1919 | 1 |
| 1922 | 4 |
| 1923 | 13 |
| 1924 | 6 |
| 1925 | 4 |
| 1929 | 3 |
3,630 stories matching order
- Historic Ferry Regulation Ordered in Eastern Washington
For the first time, state regulators impose rules on the Columbia River ferry lines to protect local travelers.
- Forging the Frontier in Snohomish
A local blacksmith offers specialized tools for the logging industry, reflecting the raw industrial ambition of the Snohomish River valley in the late 19th century.
- Prison Guard Shoots Inmate in Jute Mill Fight
A convict is wounded during a prison brawl after guards are ordered to use live ammunition to stop frequent fighting.
- City Hall Forces Transit Upgrade
After years of complaints about 'rattletraps,' the City Council orders the Tacoma Railway & Power Company to replace its McKinley Park fleet.
- The Bitter Boyer Estate Feud
A sweeping court order freezes the assets and property of the late Sarah E. Boyer, dividing revenue among competing heirs and bringing a prominent family dispute into the light.
- A Thanksgiving Invitation, an Order to Leave, and a Violent Reckoning
A Black veteran of the Philippines campaign was invited to Fort Walla Walla for Thanksgiving. Ordered off the post, he returned days later to beat the officer who had expelled him.
- A Royal Reception for Seattle's Foresters in Tacoma
Members of the Ancient Order of Foresters take a steamer to Tacoma for an evening of music, speeches, and hospitality.
- Two Chinese Men Ordered Deported After Prison Term
Lee Wung and Wun Lung were ordered deported for lacking immigration papers after serving a year for forgery—a minor hearing inside the era's exclusion machine.
- A Federal Injunction Kills the Northern Pacific Strike Before It Starts
As receivers slash wages 3 to 5 percent, a Milwaukee judge bars the railroad brotherhoods from ordering a walkout—and the order is being extended 'to cover this state,' binding Northern Pacific men all along the line to Seattle.
- Fraternal Orders Thrive Despite Economic Gloom
While the Panic of 1893 batters the economy, Seattle's secret societies are recording explosive membership growth.
- The Postal Money Order Swindle
A former hostler finds himself in federal custody after allegedly intercepting and cashing a woman's mail.
- Newport Bought Its Fire Hydrants — Then Never Had Them Installed
The town paid for fire plugs in September, but the council never ordered the water company to set them. Now the work can't be done until spring — and the paper is warning that the town may pay for the delay.
- The Northern Pacific Railroad's War on Seattle
An 1886 rail schedule change reveals a corporate conspiracy to strangle the city's growth in favor of town-lot speculation.
- Defiance on the Puyallup Reservation
A railroad developer ignores the Indian Agent’s orders to stop grading on tribal lands, setting the stage for a potential military standoff.
- Telegraph Operator Arrested for Forgery
A Northern Pacific employee is behind bars after allegedly altering postal money orders to inflate their value at a downtown bank.
- The Political Tidal Wave that Swept Seattle’s Council
After a crushing defeat at the polls, the incumbent 'Law and Order' party leaders signal they will voluntarily step down, ending a bitter period of civic paralysis in 1885 Seattle.
- The Battle for the Soul of Seattle’s Police Department
In 1885, a local editorial called on women, who held significant civic influence, to reject a mayoralty candidate beholden to the 'saloon interest' and elect a law-and-order candidate to clean up the force.
- A New Order in Seattle
The Ancient Order of Foresters organizes a grand state body in Seattle, marking the end of Oregon's regional control.
- The Treasury’s Call: A Deadline for Snohomish County Debt
An 1875 public notice issued by County Treasurer John D. Morgan warns citizens that the county will stop paying interest on outstanding orders drawn prior to the new year.
- Legal Battle Stalls Inland Empire Railroad Expansion
A Spokane legal team secures a restraining order against the Inland Empire Railroad, marking a pivotal moment in the infrastructure dispute.
- The Unsettled Estate on the Edge of Lake Union
A legal notice from 1877 reveals the struggle of a widow attempting to settle a deceased spouse's debts by liquidating land near the wild, undeveloped frontier of Seattle's Lake Union.
- The 1885 'Law and Order' Caucus
Seattle political organizers announce a formal gathering at Frye’s Opera House to nominate candidates for the municipal election.
- The Pullman Strike Paralyses Seattle Rail Traffic
Striking railway workers in Seattle join a nationwide boycott against Pullman cars, leading to federal court intervention and military involvement.
- Cutting the Cost of Keeping Warm
A sweeping new public service commission order promises to slash freight rates for coal from the Roslyn mines, potentially saving state residents $50,000 annually.
- The Ghost of a Forger
A clever swindler slips out of Walla Walla after passing forged postal money orders, leaving authorities empty-handed.