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.
Refine2 on
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1888 | 314 |
| 1889 | 785 |
| 1891 | 328 |
| 1892 | 1,308 |
| 1893 | 1,604 |
| 1894 | 1,246 |
| 1895 | 1,087 |
6,672 stories
- A House of Prayer for All the Nations
In 1892, Seattle's Congregation Ohaveth Sholom dedicated the first Jewish synagogue in Washington, filling the new sanctuary at Seventh and Seneca with Jews and Gentiles and with sermons that insisted the building must be more than stone and gold.
- A Desperate Leap at Commercial Wharf
After an unemployed teamster jumped into the water, a crowd on the wharf pooled their money to help him, despite authorities questioning his sanity.
- The 'Reform' Administration’s Open Secret
While the police publicly touted a permanent closure of gambling, four major houses reopened under a new protective arrangement.
- Eastern Washington Farmers Question Canal Freight Claims
A local farmer challenges the Post-Intelligencer’s claim that a canal will lower freight rates, sparking a heated editorial defense on the economic future of the region.
- A Sea of Supporters Packs the Armory for the Canal
Thousands of Seattleites overflow the First Regiment Armory to rally for the proposed ship canal, signaling a major push for federal infrastructure.
- Labor Union President Accused of Embezzling Relief Funds
Joseph L. Murphy, a prominent labor leader in Seattle, has vanished after allegations surfaced that he pocketed money intended for the survivors of the Roslyn mining disaster.
- The Candidate and the Embezzlement Allegations
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Henry J. Snively defends his past against accusations of financial misconduct and abandoning his legal wards.
- The Political Scandal of the Missing Orphans' Funds
A fierce campaign battle erupts as the Post-Intelligencer accuses gubernatorial candidate Henry J. Snively of embezzling money meant for orphans.
- The Great Seattle Fire Department Mutiny
Twenty-seven veteran firemen resigned in protest after a political appointment replaced their chief, leaving the city with an untested crew.
- A Tragic End for Seattle’s Youngest Newsboy
The short life of Freddy Sherman, a child who helped support his family by selling papers, cut short by a trolley accident.
- Great Northern Right-of-Way Case Resumes
Railroad giants clash over terminal access, threatening to destroy the city’s existing shipping infrastructure.
- The Price of a Cold Commute
After Mintie Carver died of pneumonia following a frigid, unheated train journey, her estate won a lawsuit against the Northern Pacific—a verdict the court refused to overturn.
- The Tragedy of a 'Wild Life'
Seattle is transfixed by the murder of Thomas Henderson Boyd, shedding light on the tumultuous and public-facing life of his wife, 'Gypsy' Ashton.
- The Tragic End of a Seattle Marriage
A woman remains silent in jail as authorities piece together the details of a fatal shooting and a secretive, volatile union.
- The Double Standard of Seattle Justice
An editorial challenges the public sympathy afforded to a female slayer, arguing that the law must remain blind to gender in cases of homicide.
- The Murphy Murder Trial Heads to the Jury
A week of testimony in the Lake Washington shooting case concludes, with the jury visiting the saloon crime scene.
- The Tragedy at the Marion Street Rooming House
A discarded lover murders a popular music teacher in her home before turning his gun on himself, leaving her two children orphaned.
- A Candlelit Verdict in the Murphy Homicide Trial
Electric lights failed in the King County courthouse during instructions, casting a long shadow over the trial of James Murphy.
- The Price of a 'Bad Man's' Temper
A Seattle newspaper editorial rails against a lenient verdict for a saloon regular who murdered a bartender over a perceived slight.
- The Bank Cashier Who Vanished
After leaving the North End bank during the workday, a prominent cashier disappeared, leaving behind a trail of confusing clues and a frantic search in the Olympic Mountains.
- The Cabin Murder and the Fear of a Mob
An Italian stonecutter on trial for his life recounts a desperate struggle on Mercer Island that left his employer dead.
- The Passing of the Father of Seattle’s Lumber Industry
A tribute to Henry L. Yesler, the man who brought the steam sawmill to Elliott Bay and defined the city's early industrial identity.
- The Final Act of Henry Yesler
A look back at the life of the pioneer sawmill owner whose legendary generosity and deep ties to early Seattle shaped the city's foundations.
- Seattle Bids Farewell to Its Founding Father
As Henry Yesler, the man who built the city's first sawmill, is laid to rest, Princess Angeline and the city's pioneers reflect on the rapid transformation of their frontier home.
- 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.