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.
Refine
Show the numbers
| Year | Stories |
|---|---|
| 1854 | 1 |
| 1860 | 1 |
| 1861 | 1 |
| 1862 | 1 |
| 1863 | 3 |
| 1872 | 3 |
| 1876 | 5 |
| 1877 | 9 |
| 1878 | 12 |
| 1880 | 1 |
| 1883 | 11 |
| 1884 | 2 |
| 1885 | 6 |
| 1886 | 7 |
| 1887 | 2 |
| 1888 | 5 |
| 1889 | 18 |
| 1890 | 5 |
| 1891 | 14 |
| 1892 | 19 |
| 1893 | 21 |
| 1894 | 21 |
| 1895 | 35 |
| 1898 | 1 |
| 1899 | 5 |
| 1903 | 15 |
| 1904 | 8 |
| 1905 | 1 |
| 1908 | 1 |
| 1909 | 21 |
| 1910 | 1 |
| 1911 | 2 |
| 1914 | 5 |
| 1915 | 1 |
| 1916 | 7 |
| 1917 | 3 |
| 1922 | 1 |
| 1923 | 1 |
| 1924 | 2 |
| 1925 | 2 |
280 stories matching acquir
- Northern Pacific Purges Ranks in Consolidation
A master mechanic travels to Vancouver to test the fitness of workers on newly acquired rail lines as wage standards are adjusted.
- The Secret Land Deal Exposed
Allegations emerge that Mayor Hunt attempted to bypass a public vote to acquire the Thomas land for municipal use.
- The Northern Pacific’s Land Grab Scheme
A political battle heats up as corporate interests maneuver to acquire valuable iron and coal lands before the Washington State Constitutional Convention.
- 1914 Bid to Let Noncitizens Own City Land
Voters prepare to decide if resident aliens should be allowed to own property within city limits.
- The Price of Proving Up on Timber Land
A reader argues that the President’s veto of a relief bill makes it nearly impossible for average settlers to acquire government land without losing everything to travel costs and lawyers.
- A Landmark Ruling for Donation Land Claims
The federal government establishes a precedent for canceling land claims after a Puyallup Valley settler failed to live on his property.
- The University of Washington Territory Opens Its Doors
Newly established in Seattle, the University prepares for its first session under a new president.
- The Battle Over Public Water Power
A political critique of proposed federal legislation warns that speculators are maneuvering to seize control of vital water power sites.
- The Power Company Buys Up Washington Avenue
The Northern Idaho Montana Power Co. assembles frontage at Pine, First and Washington, plans a fireproof substation, and pulls its lines off the main street.
- University of Washington Opens in Seattle Under President Barnard
A newly established seat of higher learning in Seattle begins its first academic year, guided by a New England educator.
- The Fight Over Who Can Own Washington Land
A 1914 ballot measure proposed strict limits on alien land ownership, sparking a debate on residency, citizenship, and the future of the state's natural resources.
- The Fight to Protect Seattle’s Tap Water
A century ago, city engineers were already sounding the alarm about protecting the Cedar River watershed from industrial development and pollution to ensure a clean supply for a growing city.
- The Boston Mob That Bought Seattle
A mysterious syndicate from the East Coast has quietly acquired over $75,000 worth of land around Lake Washington and downtown, sparking rumors of a coordinated takeover by wealthy outsiders.
- The Uncomfortable Truth About Seattle's Hotel Shortage
In 1876, the local press argued that Seattle’s lack of quality hotel space wasn't just an inconvenience—it was a drag on the city's entire economic reputation.
- A 1909 Newspaper Campaign Against Japanese Immigrants
A local labor newspaper warns that the white working class of Everett faces the same economic ruin as San Francisco due to competition from Japanese laborers.
- A Massive Education Project for Native Youth
Catholic mission leaders acquire 100 acres near North Yakima for a new industrial training school.
- A New Catholic Training School for Yakima
Religious leaders acquire 100 acres between the old and new town sites to establish an industrial training center for Indigenous youth.
- A Devastating Betrayal in Marriage
An elderly woman sues for divorce and the recovery of her property after her husband allegedly swindled her and threatened her life.
- A Divorce Suit Exposes Brutality—and a Fight Over the House
Mary C. Fisher accused her husband of choking her and tearing her clothes in front of her daughter; she asked the court for a divorce, the house and all the property.
- The Oyster Trust Comes for Willapa Bay
Oystermen in South Bend fight a Senate amendment that would let a San Francisco corporation keep its grip on Willapa Bay's oyster beds.
- The Price of a Seattle Landmark: A $7,500 Real Estate Snapshot from 1889
A choice residence property, recently spared by the Great Seattle Fire, highlights the rapid commercial real estate churn in the city’s post-conflagration recovery.
- The Birth of Mechanic's Liens in Washington Territory
A landmark 1854 statute established the right for laborers to place liens on buildings and land to ensure they were paid for their work.
- Railroad Giant Stumbles in Palouse
A landmark court ruling strips the Northern Pacific of its right-of-way through Palouse City.
- Vanderbilt Land Deal on Commerce Street
The Pacific Trust Company acquires a downtown building from George and Edith Stuyvesant Vanderbilt.
- The Tailor-Made Confidence Man
A clever grifter leaves a trail of unpaid bills and stolen suits across North Seattle.