Research the archive
Narrow 22,457 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 |
|---|---|
| 1903 | 8 |
| 1904 | 227 |
| 1907 | 2 |
| 1909 | 142 |
379 stories matching made
- The City’s Endless Debt Cycle
Tacoma’s casual approach to borrowing is mortgaging the future.
- The Crumbling Span Over the Gulch
South Tacoma residents demand immediate action as a critical bridge over a ravine shows dangerous signs of structural failure.
- He Kept a $5,000 Reward Posted for His Missing Wife. Then He Drank Himself to Death.
Christine Nelson stepped into a New York hotel room in October and was never seen again. Her husband spent a fortune and two trips East searching — and died this morning at St. Joseph's.
- A Predatory Property Theft
An Indigenous woman fights to reclaim land she says was swindled from her in a saloon transaction.
- Mayor Accused of Silencing Health Official Over Water Safety
Physicians in Pierce County call a meeting at the Tacoma Hotel, suspecting the Mayor fired the bacteriologist to hide pollution data.
- Sauerkraut vs. the Burglar
A serial burglar is finally caught, but his most memorable encounter was a failed heist at a boarding house.
- Why Tacoma’s Small Contractors Are Being Shut Out
A massive $50,000 sidewalk contract leaves local firms behind, sparking debate over whether the city's infrastructure projects are designed only for the biggest players.
- The Narrow Escape of the Portland Express
When armed bandits flagged down a Northern Pacific passenger train near Roy, the engineer made a split-second decision to keep the throttle open.
- Fireproofing the Tacoma Theater
Mayor Campbell mandates safety overhauls to ensure audience egress and stage safety at one of the city's premier theaters.
- South Tacoma’s Quest for Clean Water
City officials prepare to test new artesian wells, aiming to replace a water supply plagued by 'foul drainage' and contamination.
- The 'Buy Local' Crusade of 1904
Tacoma’s industrial boosters celebrate a year of lobbying, recruitment, and a rigid insistence on regional loyalty.
- "My Office Cannot Be Used by Gamblers": Tacoma's Prosecutor Explains Why He Won't Touch the Slot Machines
County Attorney Campbell says he is ready to prosecute slot-machine men any day of the week — but not on a complaint carried in by a rival operator who wants the law enforced only against his competition.
- John L. Sullivan’s Gift of Gratitude
A famous prize-fighter leaves a $25 gold penknife for the Tacoma theater manager who returned his lost $135 check.
- City Council Slashes Budget Estimates
Tacoma's finance committee faces a shortfall, cutting police, fire, and street improvement budgets to match available income.
- The Great Tacoma Water Grift
How a corrupt water monopoly swindled the city out of nearly $1.5 million for a tainted water supply, leaving residents with a decade of filth.
- The Great Tacoma Water Flimflam
A look back at the 1890 council scandal that left the city with a mountain of debt and a useless water system.
- Knockout Drops at the Standard Saloon
A Tacoma man swears he was drugged, fleeced of $210, and knocked toothless—then asks the city to revoke the saloon's license.
- The Anti-Vaccination Protest of 1909
Tacoma parents, barred from sending their children to public schools, organize a legislative campaign against compulsory vaccination laws.
- Three Thousand Boosters Eat, Cheer, and Rebrand Tacoma
One night in February 1909: 3,000 boosters packed the armory, picked a new city slogan — 'You'll Like Tacoma' — and got sermons on land, liquor, and who should own the tide flats.
- A Shoemaker's Carefully Planned Farewell at the Grand Hotel
Carl Eggert, despondent over his wife's death and his son's suicide, shot himself in a Tacoma hotel after leaving detailed notes, money for the cleanup, and instructions to wait until morning.
- Tacoma’s Theater Safety Crisis
Following the horrific Iroquois Theater fire in Chicago, local inspectors scramble to identify hazards in Tacoma’s aging entertainment venues.
- The Shadowy Resort on the Reservation
Neighbors allege a dance hall and illicit bar near Bay Street are a hub for vice, liquor sales to minors, and persistent noise, while city officials look the other way.
- The Laborer Who Said He Might Be Dead Tomorrow
A transient worker shot himself on a Tacoma wharf. A dentist’s receipt and a Steilacoom postmaster gave him back his name.
- The Price of Municipal Transparency
A local newspaper challenges a long-standing government graft scheme by undercutting the official printing contract, sparking a showdown at City Hall.
- Olympia Lawmakers Refuse to Scapegoat Japanese Residents—For Now
A cable from Tokyo and a Pierce County bill barring foreigners from public works force the Washington House to confront anti-Japanese legislation.