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.
Refine1 on
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1882 | 130 |
| 1883 | 799 |
| 1884 | 455 |
| 1885 | 838 |
| 1886 | 492 |
| 1887 | 484 |
3,198 stories
- Carpenters Plan Strike for Shorter Hours
Local woodworkers demand a nine-hour workday without a reduction in pay.
- Yesler's Real Estate Moves
Henry Yesler begins selling off his front-street property as he prepares for construction projects.
- The Point Roberts Murder Acquittal
A jury clears Charles Mitchell in the killing of John Harris after testimony reveals a violent standoff over a shotgun.
- Whitman County Farmers Declare War on Monopoly
Spring Flat settlers resolve to stop buying Northern Pacific Railroad lands at 'exorbitant' prices, challenging the company's title to the public domain.
- The Northern Pacific's Land Grab
A critique of federal legislation that allegedly grants the Northern Pacific Railroad millions of acres of public land under the guise of an extension.
- The Fight Over Railroad Land Grants
A scathing critique of Senator Dolph's land forfeiture bill, which is accused of protecting corporate interests over the public domain.
- The Fight Over Northern Pacific Land Grants
A high-stakes political battle in the U.S. Senate over land worth thousands of dollars per acre near Puyallup.
- The Gallows Awaits a Pullman Murderer
A jury in Colfax has returned a guilty verdict for the cold-blooded murder of William T. Higgins, leading to a stark final judgment from the bench.
- Mrs. Colby’s Call to the New Women of Seattle
Following the legal enfranchisement of women in Washington Territory, a public lecture urged Seattle women to embrace their new civic responsibilities as a 'co-worker with God' and a force for moral integrity.
- The Mayoral Candidate and the Tax Collector
Candidate John Leary addresses rumors that he would allow property owners to dodge street assessments if elected.
- A Delayed Blast Kills Four on the Railroad Grade Near Ellensburg
A charge that hung fire exploded as workers returned to the rock, killing four men and fatally injuring foreman Walker in one of the season’s worst construction accidents.
- A Cowardly Assault on Third Street
When a sick man defended his son from a neighbor's violence, the local justice system failed to provide justice.
- Seattle’s Irish Community Rallies Against Landlordism
A historic convention of the Irish National Land League in Seattle condemns the 'piratical' land system of Ireland and vows financial and moral support to struggling tenant farmers facing eviction.
- The Great Divide: The Fight for a Mountain Rail Link
As the population of Western Washington booms in 1882, Seattle residents grow tired of paying for infrastructure projects while Eastern Washington neighbors demand the work for free.
- The Real Estate Boom of 1881
A local column notes the rapidly inflating property values in Seattle, documenting how land changed hands for thousands in gold coin within a single year.
- The Treacherous Eddies of Anacortes
A boating trip on the Skagit river turns into a desperate struggle for survival when a squall capsizes a local family.
- The Tragedy at the Simon Newman Store
A violent confrontation at a local trading post ends in a coroner's verdict of justifiable homicide.
- The Seattle Housing Crunch of 1882
When an influx of new residents left travelers sleeping in the streets, local leaders looked to the 'building association' model to solve the shortage.
- A Massive New Landmark for Seattle
Construction begins on a state-of-the-art Catholic hospital, featuring the city’s first steam elevator and a futuristic ventilation system to serve the rapidly growing region.
- The Seattle Boom of 1882
An economic report reveals that property assessments in Seattle have jumped 150 percent in just three months, cementing the city's status as the wealthiest on the Pacific coast north of California.
- The Waterfront Pay Strike of 1882
A Seattle longshoreman calls out the steamship company for wage stagnation and abysmal working conditions, demanding a living wage for the dangerous work of loading the S.S. Geo. W. Elder.
- The Building Boom of 1882
While Seattle today faces a housing supply crisis, this 1882 report details a rapid expansion period where 105 new buildings were erected in a single year, aiming to make the city more attractive to the outside world.
- Gould’s Shadow Over Seattle’s Rails
Speculation mounts as a new company launches to link Seattle to Walla Walla and Baker City, signaling a major power move by Jay Gould to claim Puget Sound as a rail terminal.
- Bridging the Divide: The Quest to Unite Washington Territory
In 1882, residents and leaders were grappling with the geographic and cultural chasm between the rugged, booming Puget Sound and the burgeoning Eastern Washington region.
- The Mystery of the Ice-Forming Caves
A scientific inquiry into why midsummer ice forms in the lava tunnels of the Washington wilderness.