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| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1854 | 2 |
| 1858 | 1 |
| 1861 | 1 |
| 1863 | 2 |
| 1864 | 2 |
| 1865 | 1 |
| 1872 | 3 |
| 1876 | 34 |
| 1877 | 38 |
| 1878 | 15 |
| 1879 | 3 |
| 1880 | 8 |
| 1882 | 10 |
| 1883 | 25 |
| 1884 | 21 |
| 1885 | 35 |
| 1886 | 23 |
| 1887 | 28 |
| 1888 | 12 |
| 1889 | 41 |
| 1890 | 11 |
| 1891 | 41 |
| 1892 | 87 |
| 1893 | 72 |
| 1894 | 78 |
| 1895 | 103 |
| 1897 | 4 |
| 1898 | 10 |
| 1899 | 18 |
| 1900 | 3 |
| 1902 | 5 |
| 1903 | 46 |
| 1904 | 24 |
| 1908 | 6 |
| 1909 | 35 |
| 1910 | 14 |
| 1911 | 4 |
| 1912 | 2 |
| 1914 | 6 |
| 1915 | 9 |
| 1916 | 13 |
| 1917 | 9 |
| 1923 | 2 |
| 1925 | 2 |
| 1929 | 1 |
910 stories matching poor
- The Snow Came, but the Shoveling Jobs Didn’t
Seattle’s charity bureau reported a daily crush of destitute applicants, and even a snowfall failed to create the usual day labor—householders did the shoveling themselves.
- Seattle’s 'Black Hole of Calcutta' Condemned
A scathing health department report labels the city jail a public danger, citing extreme overcrowding and poor ventilation.
- The Science of Charity: Seattle’s 1892 War on Beggary
Before modern social safety nets, Seattle churches pushed a 'scientific' model of charity to distinguish between the 'deserving' poor and what they termed fraudulent street mendicants.
- The Forgotten Couple of North Seattle
A tragic encounter with the city's elderly poor reveals the thin safety net for those living in isolation during the late 19th century.
- The City Bids Farewell to Its Founding Father
Thousands of mourners, from pioneers to laborers, gathered at the Yesler mansion to honor the man who built Seattle’s first mill and served as its patron.
- The Mystery of the Vanished Donation Claim
Thurston County officials try to purchase a poor farm, only to discover the original land claim may never have been finalized.
- The Family Feud in the Poor House
A daughter claims her father sold her into marriage for $250, but he insists her poverty is of her own making.
- The Great Coal Heist
A pile of coal earmarked for the city's poor is brazenly hauled away in broad daylight by thieves under the noses of onlookers.
- The Shadow Over the County Poor Farm
A newly impaneled grand jury is tasked with investigating grave charges of corruption and misconduct at the King County almshouse.
- The Great Beef Price Drop of 1893
Wholesale cuts fall to record lows, making meat affordable for the city's working poor during the lean winter.
- The Unhappy Mix of Orphans and Criminals
A passionate plea from a local editor to build a dedicated home for Walla Walla's orphans, rather than housing them alongside juvenile offenders.
- The Great Seattle-Tacoma Athletic Clash
Seattle High School defeats Tacoma in a muddy track meet at T. Y. C. A. Park, proving the city's athletic mettle despite poor weather.
- The Tragedy of the 'Professional Beggar'
A man sentenced to three months in the county jail for vagrancy writes a desperate letter from his cell, claiming he is dying and pleading for the bail money he cannot afford.
- A Desperate Shot, and a Family That Had Tried to Prevent It
Mrs. Henry Vossberg, in poor health and despondent, shot herself with a .22 rifle west of Tweedie; doctors had warned the family she was suicidal and the ammunition was supposed to be gone.
- Who Should Pay for the City's Sick?
A legal dispute over whether the City of Seattle or King County is responsible for the medical care of the indigent.
- The Seattle Baseball Team’s Disastrous Spokane Trip
After losing nearly every game on their road trip, the Seattle baseball club faces a local audience’s disgust as they head home to regroup.
- The City and County Spar Over Who Pays for the Poor
Mayor Ronald and health officials grapple with a budget crisis over the medical care of impoverished residents, highlighting the administrative friction in 1890s Seattle.
- The Wage-Theft Struggle of 1887 Seattle
Working women in the late 19th century fought back against exploitative employers who withheld pay, turning to labor unions to recover their stolen wages.
- The Pulpit vs. the Tax Assessor: Seattle Pastor Fights a Bill to Tax Church Property
Rev. Clark Davis told his congregation that a proposed state law would punish churches for doing the state's moral work—and warned that saloons and 'unbelievers' were cheering it on.
- Associated Charities Weeds Out the 'Unworthy'
Seattle's charitable bureau meets to handle a growing caseload, drawing a rigid line between the 'deserving' poor and those deemed unworthy of aid.
- The Captain, the Donated Groceries and the Missing Clothes
A former corps member tells Seattle police that goods given for the poor were eaten by the officers living at headquarters and the clothing sold off — while the 'captain' calls the whole thing spite.
- The Price of Justice
The Washington State Supreme Court admits that legal machinery has long worked against the poor, promising to prioritize the cases of those unable to afford bail.
- Labor Editors Take Aim at Corporate Influence in the Senate
An influential labor paper rejects the idea that wealth equals character, backing a populist judge for the U.S. Senate.
- The Art of the Townsite Swindle
A cynical promoter explains to a traveler exactly how to manufacture a fake city out of thin air and poor land to bait unsuspecting investors.
- King County's Relief Roll: 1,680 People and $4 Apiece
Behind the county's monthly $1,500 poor fund was a line of widows, abandoned wives and barefoot children—many turned away.