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 | 15 |
| 1883 | 46 |
| 1884 | 25 |
| 1885 | 65 |
| 1886 | 29 |
| 1887 | 45 |
225 stories matching show
- The Lonely Life of the Seattle Bachelor
A local writer laments the lack of respectable social outlets for unmarried men, arguing that the city’s saloons and variety shows offer nothing but 'hardening influences.'
- When the Circus Came to Seattle
Despite unseasonably dismal weather, Seattle crowds turned out in force in 1885 to witness John Robinson’s 'Ten Big Shows'—a massive traveling spectacle that promised wonder and a glimpse of the exotic.
- The Relief Society's Annual Report
Seattle's charitable women report on a year of sheltering abandoned children and aiding the city's destitute families.
- The Territory Picks Its Favorite
A survey of prominent Republicans across Washington Territory shows overwhelming support for James G. Blaine in the upcoming presidential nomination.
- 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.
- Washington Territory's Missing Land Maps
Would-be settlers at Walla Walla say no one can show them the government tracts they came for—and railroad lands are not what they want.
- The Swindled Investor and the 'Silver Mine' Scam
A Seattle real estate dealer is arrested after selling fake claims to a nonexistent silver mine, sparking a heated legal battle and a courtroom confrontation.
- City Council Denies Chinese Community's Request for Firecrackers
During a meeting regarding city licenses and infrastructure, the Seattle City Council rejects a petition from local Chinese firms to celebrate their new year with traditional fireworks.
- The Temperance Movement Makes Its Mark in Seattle
Western Washington women organize to battle 'worthless' sensational literature and the influence of the liquor trade.
- The Strange Prophecies of a Civil War Veteran
After a seizure, a former Union captain and Dayton attorney experiences a mental break involving visions of the end of the world.
- The Temperance Parade of 1885
When the youth of a small Washington settlement marched with flags and banners to take a stand against tobacco and rum.
- The Price of Poaching in the Bering Sea
A federal court cracks down on seal hunters as the United States asserts its authority over Alaskan waters.
- The Big Watch and Spectacle Fire Sale
After a brush with insolvency, a Seattle merchant pivots to an aggressive clearing-out sale of watches and musical instruments.
- The Governor’s Hotel: A Scandal of Misplaced Charges
When an out-of-town politician accused Washington Territory Governor Watson C. Squire of war profiteering during the anti-Chinese riots, the business community and local Democrats rallied to defend his integrity.
- The Political Campaign Against Chinese Labor in 1886
A local representative’s fiery defense of anti-Chinese exclusionary policies, detailing the economic anxieties that gripped Seattle workers during the late 19th century.
- The Solitary Tragedy of Maple Valley
A lonely squatter, once neighborly, ends his life in a wretched cabin while local settlers eye his unclaimed homestead.
- The Yacht Race That Proved the 'White Wings'
A high-stakes regatta on Elliott Bay ends in triumph for a new vessel, showcasing the rapid development of maritime sporting life in 1887 Seattle.
- Seattle's Corrupt Policing: The Fee System of 1887
How Seattle’s police force was incentivized to hunt for arrests and padding their own pockets through court fees, sparking a local civic scandal.
- A Night Out on Front Street Ends in Glass
An intoxicated patron’s stumbling walk through downtown Seattle leads to a costly encounter with a store display window.
- The Thief Who Tried to Sell Stolen Goods Back to the Chief
A brazen Tacoma burglar was caught red-handed when he attempted to sell his illicit haul directly to the city’s Chief of Police.
- The Ghost of a Rail Land Grab
A legislative power play over a parcel of land shows that in the early days of Washington Territory, legal maneuvering was as much a part of town-building as the railroads themselves.
- The Neah Bay Standoff: A Clash of Court and Cabinet
A territorial judge, a stubborn Indian Agent, and an injunction gone wrong sparked a tense, potentially violent jurisdictional battle at Neah Bay.
- The Seattle-Tacoma Rivalry Hits the Rails
An editorial critique of a Northern Pacific Railroad official's visit reveals deep-seated local resentment over the company's blatant favoritism toward Tacoma.
- Infant Remains Discovered on Salmon Creek
A grim discovery by a U.S. Deputy Marshal sparks an investigation near a local mill.
- Steamer Grounded on Wharf Debris
A steamship ran aground on a pile of ballast at the foot of Pike Street, highlighting the dangers of dumping refuse into the harbor.