Research the archive
Narrow 25,688 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 |
| 1861 | 2 |
| 1863 | 4 |
| 1876 | 7 |
| 1877 | 6 |
| 1878 | 9 |
| 1879 | 1 |
| 1880 | 1 |
| 1882 | 2 |
| 1883 | 12 |
| 1884 | 12 |
| 1885 | 7 |
| 1886 | 4 |
| 1887 | 7 |
| 1888 | 11 |
| 1889 | 25 |
| 1890 | 4 |
| 1891 | 27 |
| 1892 | 62 |
| 1893 | 67 |
| 1894 | 45 |
| 1895 | 32 |
| 1897 | 2 |
| 1898 | 1 |
| 1899 | 7 |
| 1900 | 4 |
| 1902 | 4 |
| 1903 | 22 |
| 1904 | 15 |
| 1905 | 2 |
| 1908 | 3 |
| 1909 | 26 |
| 1910 | 6 |
| 1911 | 7 |
| 1912 | 1 |
| 1914 | 4 |
| 1915 | 5 |
| 1916 | 10 |
| 1917 | 11 |
| 1918 | 2 |
| 1923 | 1 |
| 1924 | 2 |
| 1925 | 3 |
| 1929 | 1 |
487 stories matching cite
- The Judge Who Played Faro: Port Townsend’s Bar Association Moves to Impeach Morris Sachs
In a stunning display of civic outrage, local attorneys and property owners present sworn affidavits to the state legislature alleging that Superior Court Judge Morris B. Sachs regularly gambled on illegal faro games and prejudged cases before hearing them.
- The Receiver Cut Their Pay 2 Cents an Hour. A Judge Made Him Put It Back.
When the Rainier Avenue Electric Railway's court-appointed receiver trimmed motormen's wages from 20 cents to 18 cents an hour, the crews — months behind on pay, with houses in Columbia City bought out of their own wages — took him to court and won.
- A Seattle Wife Sued Her Husband for Beating Her. The Court Said She Couldn't.
Judge Osborne ruled that a married woman could not maintain a damages action against her husband for assault—even after testimony of a fist to the eye and kicks with heavy boots—sending the case to the state Supreme Court.
- The Oil Men’s Last Stand: Seattle’s Battle Over Fire Safety and Corporate Power
In March 1889, a proposed ordinance to ban oil storage within city limits sparked a fierce standoff between the Board of Trade and powerful petroleum interests. While the city pushed for safety, the oil dealers argued the rules were discriminatory and economically impossible, setting the stage for a legal battle that would define Seattle’s industrial future.
- Benton County's Courthouse Fight Turns Into a Four-Commissioner Circus
A newly elected commissioner is kept waiting, a courthouse contract is let in defiance of a court order, and $125,000 in bonds leave just $1,362 for furnishings.
- Olympia Bought a $1,500 Sewer Map Critics Called Worthless
A letter to the editor accuses the city council of buying a stranger's sewer plan without scrutiny—complete with a harbor reservoir already condemned in San Diego.
- The Boy Too Tough for the Reform School
A teenage burglar escapes Chehalis, stumps the trustees, and triggers a constitutional standoff over who must deal with an incorrigible child.
- A Six-Month Divorce Rule Meets a Quick Idaho Wedding
A Spokane court asks whether a divorced woman's speedy remarriage makes her an adulteress—and whether hundreds of local marriages and land titles are at risk.
- A Seattle Improvement Company Tried to Dispossess a Black Homeowner—He Cited the Constitution
S. H. Stone bought a lot in a 'high-class' residence addition. When white neighbors objected, the company moved to undo the sale—and his lawyer answered with the U.S. Constitution.
- The City vs. The Water Company
A federal judge blocks Walla Walla from building its own water works, citing an existing contract as an 'inviolate' property right.
- The Sunday Bond Deal That Split Benton County
Two commissioners secretly arranged a courthouse bond sale, and a courtroom fight over lost premiums exposed how far they went to keep the third commissioner—and the public—in the dark.
- The Hop Growers' Gamble
An outspoken Auburn farmer rallies regional hop growers to challenge a buyers' monopoly, citing the success of a New York growers' association in forcing price hikes.
- The Gold Brick Swindler Faces Trial
A notorious 'gold brick' confidence man is headed to the superior court after a dramatic legal clash in the courtroom.
- The Express War on the Tracks
A legal showdown in Seattle tests whether a major railway can unilaterally terminate its contract with an express service.
- The Second Street Stand-Off
Property owners in early Kennewick push back against municipal street paving, citing hard times and 'over-improvement' concerns.
- The Battle for the Capitol Library
Acting-Governor Henry McGill blocks the removal of the Territorial Library to Vancouver, citing conflicting laws and an ongoing federal dispute over the Seat of Government.
- The Yesler Will Case: A Dead Millionaire, a Missing Will, and a Widow on Trial
In a Seattle courtroom, prosecutors argue that Mrs. Yesler conspired to destroy her husband's will—while defense lawyers call the case a web of speculation and newspaper rumor.
- Streetcar Company Rejects City's Terms
The West Street and North End Electric Railway Company refuses a franchise extension, citing 'unreasonable' conditions imposed by the city council.
- A Violent Day in the Pacific Northwest
A wave of tragedy sweeps through the region, from a brutal stabbing in Northfield to a tragic accident in Whatcom.
- The Supreme Court Stops a Judge From Sending Yakima County the Stenographer’s Bill
A superior court judge tried to force the county treasury to pay for trial transcripts. The state Supreme Court said no—and used a rare writ to stop the warrants before they became county debt.
- The Court Let Harbor Lines Reach Beyond the City Limits
Washington’s Supreme Court reversed a lower court and held that harbor-line commissioners had jurisdiction in front of incorporated towns like Ballard, not just cities—then sent the case back to be dismissed.
- The Saloon Men Take Newport's Dry Vote to Court
A five-man complaint asks a Superior Court judge to void Newport's local option election — not on the merits, but because the petition never named the precincts of the men who signed it.
- The Thankless Job of the Police Commissioner
Dr. A. N. Marion steps down as Seattle Police Commissioner, citing a lack of remuneration and the crushing pressure of civic complaints.
- The Judge, the Stenographer, and the $2,000 Bill the County Refused to Pay
A Yakima County water-rights trial dragged on for weeks. When the judge tried to stick taxpayers with the stenographer's tab, the state Supreme Court stepped in and said no.
- The Whole Thing
A heated clash between a city councilman and the acting mayor erupts over procedural power struggles.
Also about this, in other words
- The Editor Who Sold His Paper to a Brothel Keeper
A scathing letter in the Puget Sound Dispatch exposes the corrupt alliance between Seattle’s Republican party and its most notorious vice kingpins, asking: 'What of that newspaper publisher... who for a palm share in the wages of prostitution gives his aid and influence?'
- The Newspaper Wars of 1878
A Snohomish editor accuses a rival publication of blatant plagiarism, citing the biblical commandment against stealing.
- Books for the Common Good
An anonymous businessman donates $100 in gold to expand the Y.M.C.A. reading room for the working men of Seattle.
- The Reverend and the Editor Spar Over Grammar
A local minister demands public corrections for his column, leading to a feisty rebuttal from the newspaper's editorial staff.
- The Forbidden Book That Survived the Fire
A rare, centuries-old volume of Martin Luther’s 'Table Talk' was miraculously salvaged from the ashes of the Great Seattle Fire, having been smuggled across the ocean and hidden away by generations to escape religious persecution.
- Editor’s Home Reduced to Ash
The residence of J. Whinnery, editor of the Centralia Chronicle, was mysteriously destroyed by fire while his family was away.
- An Electrifying Encounter at the Drug Store
A Seattlite's bonnet catches fire, leading to a rather unconventional rescue by an observant clerk.
- The Power to Seize: A New Law reshapes Seattle
A sweeping new state law gives cities unprecedented authority to condemn private property for public projects, fundamentally changing the relationship between the city and its citizens.