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 |
| 1859 | 1 |
| 1861 | 2 |
| 1862 | 3 |
| 1863 | 1 |
| 1872 | 10 |
| 1876 | 41 |
| 1877 | 29 |
| 1878 | 8 |
| 1879 | 2 |
| 1880 | 5 |
| 1882 | 6 |
| 1883 | 31 |
| 1884 | 19 |
| 1885 | 27 |
| 1886 | 14 |
| 1887 | 15 |
| 1888 | 15 |
| 1889 | 35 |
| 1890 | 8 |
| 1891 | 36 |
| 1892 | 84 |
| 1893 | 77 |
| 1894 | 89 |
| 1895 | 124 |
| 1897 | 2 |
| 1898 | 12 |
| 1899 | 24 |
| 1900 | 2 |
| 1902 | 3 |
| 1903 | 44 |
| 1904 | 37 |
| 1905 | 1 |
| 1907 | 3 |
| 1908 | 20 |
| 1909 | 53 |
| 1910 | 8 |
| 1911 | 3 |
| 1912 | 1 |
| 1914 | 18 |
| 1915 | 14 |
| 1916 | 25 |
| 1917 | 11 |
| 1918 | 3 |
| 1923 | 2 |
| 1924 | 3 |
| 1925 | 3 |
| 1929 | 1 |
979 stories matching instead
- Judge Intervenes to Save Boys from Reform School
A Seattle judge issued a last-minute stay to keep two boys from being sent to the state reformatory, instead using them as witnesses against the man accused of training them in crime.
- Debating the Future of the Nooksack River
Engineers and newspapers clash over whether the Nooksack River is filling the harbor with silt, potentially threatening the maritime economy.
- A Deadly Mistake at the Livery Stable
A local stableman survives a poisoning after accidentally consuming carbolic acid instead of whisky.
- Main Street Refuses to Be Paved
Property owners between Fifth and Sixth beat back a macadam upgrade, a councilman berates them for it, and the street gets planks instead.
- 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.
- Is the Mayor a British Subject?
Tacoma's political scene erupted over rumors regarding Mayor Wright's naturalization status.
- The Boss Who Was Kicked Off His Own Train
A classic local anecdote about a prominent contractor getting a taste of his own medicine.
- Too Wet for the Dry Crusade: Tacoma Boycotts Francis Murphy
The celebrated temperance lecturer came back to Tacoma to find the Tabernacle locked against him—because he preached gospel temperance instead of prohibition.
- The Wheels Threw Him Aside: A Coal Heaver's Narrow Escape
F. Brassell fell beneath freight cars at Tekoa's coal bunkers; he lost an ear and most of his scalp but survived the first night.
- The Never-Ending Repairs of Front Street
A skeptical editorial questions the city's approach to maintaining the crumbling bulkheads and sidewalks of the waterfront.
- The Real Estate Hustle of 1888
Before the skyline, there were the speculators: a look at how early Seattle developers used the 'Great City' narrative to sell lots in mud-soaked additions.
- Justice Glasgow Sets New Fines for Dance House Girls
Judge Glasgow increases bail and fines for women working in dance halls and brothels, signaling a harsher crackdown on vice in the city.
- The Fight for the River
Tensions mount over water rights as a local paper argues that irrigation for agricultural growth should take precedence over Indigenous fishing rights.
- Outcry After Steamer Captain Fails to Rescue Men from Collapsed Wharf
A Seattle harbor accident ignites public debate over a captain's choice to pull away from a sinking structure.
- The Sad End of a Local Pet
A harmless land otter, kept as a mascot, was killed by an erratic local resident in a senseless act of cruelty.
- Battle Over School Board Authority
Critics challenge the school board’s decision to bypass public votes on construction projects and land purchases.
- The City’s Pest House
The Supreme Court rules in favor of a man whose property was turned into a smallpox quarantine facility without his consent.
- A False Alarm on Second Street
Police rushed to a residence expecting a gruesome tragedy, only to find a quiet house and a domestic misunderstanding.
- King County Stops Paying for Wildcat Scalps
Commissioners keep the bounty only for cougars and panthers—and end the days when wildcat scalps were burned as courthouse fuel.
- The Tragedy of Mrs. M. J. Williams
A beloved mother passes away in Portland after seeking medical help, leaving the community in mourning.
- The Troubled Life of a 17-Year-Old
A Seattle teenager with a history of employment instability and violent outbursts is committed to the Steilacoom asylum.
- The Shadow Police of Everett
A labor newspaper questions why a private corporation’s security, rather than city police, is patrolling public infrastructure during a machinist strike.
- The Long Road to Right-of-Way
After four years of negotiations, Walla Walla County prepares to use eminent domain to build a road through a resistant farmer's land.
- Turning the Chain-Gang Toward Thrift
A city commissioner rejects expensive wood bids for the pumping station, proposing to employ the chain-gang instead.
- The City Council Battles Over Liquor Fees
A sharp political divide emerges over raising liquor license fees, with arguments ranging from moral restriction to fear of creating a monopoly.