Research the archive
Narrow 25,724 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 | 8 |
| 1883 | 10 |
| 1884 | 15 |
| 1885 | 24 |
| 1886 | 11 |
| 1887 | 8 |
76 stories matching assert
- The First Ward Fights Back
Citizens of Seattle's First Ward protest their diminished representation in the City Council, asserting their right to full political standing.
- The Great Seattle-Portland Population War
In 1882, Seattle editors launched a sharp, statistical campaign to prove their city was growing faster than its southern rival.
- The Seattle Panic of 1888
A grand jury report warns of a secret 'International Workmen’s Association' conspiracy to seize Seattle's property and industry.
- The Fight for the Indemnity Belt
How Washington settlers fought to reclaim land from corporate control, breaking the grip of the Northern Pacific Railroad.
- Railroad Claims Tide Lands South of Seattle's King Street
The Columbia and Puget Sound Railroad asserts exclusive control over tide lands south of King Street.
- Calls for Women's Vigilance Against Domestic Violence
A reader writes into the paper suggesting that if the courts won't protect wives from abusive husbands, women should organize their own vigilante groups.
- A Visitor's Critique of the Press
Thomas Brennan, an Irish nationalist, claims the British government controls American reporting on the Irish cause.
- The Political Price of Railroad Favors
A Washington Territory legislator faces backlash for allegedly prioritizing railroad monopolies over public interests.
- The Mailroom Kerfuffle in New Tacoma
A secret telegram, a local feud, and a postmaster who chose 'higher law' over departmental secrecy.
- City Hall vs. The Legislature: A Fight for Local Control
An editorial challenges the legality of the Washington Territorial Legislature appointing members to the Seattle City Council.
- The Northern Pacific's Elusive Cascade Branch
A skeptical look at how the Northern Pacific Railroad tried to rebrand its lines to secure land grants in King County.
- Smallpox Outbreak at Camp 10
An outbreak at a remote work camp reveals how easily infectious disease traveled through the region’s transit networks.
- Charting the Future of the Columbia River
Lieutenant T.W. Symons releases a landmark report on making the Upper Columbia navigable for trade, mining, and agriculture.
- City Council Charges Corruption in Fire Department
A motion is introduced to investigate grave accusations made against the Mayor and Council concerning the illegal passage of a fire department ordinance.
- The Cascades Rail Standoff
High hopes for the Northern Pacific’s Cascade branch crumble as work on the massive infrastructure project hits a total standstill.
- The Coal Land Bust and the Stranded Laborers
Speculative collapse leaves workers in 'rookeries' as a corporate empire fractures.
- A Political Dispute Over Railroad Taxes
A legislative records search settles a political feud between C.H. Warner and his critics.
- The Imaginary Inheritance
A young man's prank about a fake Chinese inheritance snowballs into a lucrative, accidental fortune built on social perception.
- The Queen City’s Wealth
Seattle's tax assessments reveal a period of explosive growth, positioning the town as the financial center of the Pacific Northwest.
- The Seattle-Tacoma Rivalry
A bold wager between cities exposes the intense competition for the region's first major railroad connection.
- The Ethics of Prohibition and the 'Beastly' Public
An editorial critique of a prohibitionist’s sermon that labels the common public as cowardly and corrupt.
- The Unraveling of the Northern Pacific Rail Empire
A scathing critique of Henry Villard’s financial management and the 'banana belt' myths that promised prosperity to the Pacific Northwest.
- The Battle for the Tidelands
A public notice asserts private ownership over Seattle's valuable tidelands, signaling a major shift in city land use.
- The Brutal Logic of Dispossession
Governor Newell’s biennial message advocates for the total dismantling of reservations in Washington Territory to prioritize white settlers' agricultural ambitions.
- The Judge and the Vigilantes: A Seattle Lynching Mystery
A local jurist finds himself on a coroner's jury for a vigilante killing, sparking a fierce public debate over whether the law should be enforced by the courts or by the 'indignant populace.'