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 |
|---|---|
| 1876 | 1 |
| 1883 | 1 |
| 1886 | 1 |
| 1888 | 1 |
| 1891 | 1 |
| 1892 | 4 |
| 1893 | 1 |
| 1894 | 48 |
| 1895 | 35 |
93 stories matching phelp
- A Heartfelt Farewell to a Departing Official
Employees of the county treasurer's office threw an unannounced celebration for their outgoing chief, Byron Phelps, who was recently elected mayor.
- The Last Survivor of the 1856 Siege
Admiral Thomas Stowell Phelps, who helped defend a fragile Seattle from the woods near Yesler's Mill, recounts the terror and strategic maneuvers of the Battle of Seattle.
- The Mayor Fires His Police Commissioner in a Fight Over a Den
A vice dispute between Seattle's police chief and one of his commissioners ends with Mayor Phelps wielding the axe.
- The Republican Machine Sweeps Seattle
Byron Phelps wins the mayoral race in a landslide as the city undergoes a political shift.
- A New Guard at City Hall: Seattle's 1894 Transition
Mayor Byron Phelps assumes office during a severe economic depression, pledging economy, non-partisan reform, and a professionalized city government.
- The Forgotten Tragedy at the Seattle Waterfront
Decades before Seattle became a bustling metropolis, the wife of a Missouri governor suffered a fatal fall at the city's docks—a tragedy that haunted the local courts.
- Inheriting a Debt-Ridden City
Mayor Phelps takes office in Seattle, facing a dire financial situation and crumbling infrastructure after years of 'misgovernment.'
- The Plumbing Inspector Controversy
Mayor Phelps's appointment of a new inspector faces a public challenge from the local plumbers' union.
- The Laborer’s Question
A candidate for mayor is put on the spot regarding political litmus tests for city jobs.
- The Mayor Fired Him; He Says the Charter Says Otherwise
Ex-Police Commissioner E. C. Cheasty asks a judge to overturn Mayor Phelps’s removal, arguing City Hall ignored the charter and punished him for a political vote.
- The Republican City Convention
Byron Phelps nominated for Mayor in a swift and orderly convention held at the Armory.
- Seattle Fire Commissioner Suspended Amidst Hose Scandal
Mayor Phelps fires T. Masel, alleging incompetence and a fraudulent fire hose contract, sparking a chaotic power struggle at City Hall.
- The Fire Hose Scandal
Mayor Phelps files official charges against Fire Commissioner George T. Masel, alleging incompetence and corruption regarding the purchase of defective fire equipment.
- The Mayor, the Commissioners and a City Hall Truce
Seattle's police board waits for Mayor Phelps to make his next move after a judge sides with Commissioners Cheasty and Niggle.
- The Mayor Fired Him; He Took City Hall to Court
Police Commissioner John O. Niggle challenged Mayor Phelps's removal power—and his fellow commissioner Cheasty refused even to shake the mayor's hand.
- The Police Chief Who Refused to Reopen Seattle's Red-Light District
A behind-the-scenes account of how a police commissioner tried to oust Chief Rogers because he wouldn't let the Blackchapel cribs rent again—and how the mayor stopped him.
- A Mayor's Nomination and the Aldermen Laying Plans to Block It
Mayor Phelps names John J. Scurry to the board of public works, and the same aldermanic combination that fought his predecessor quietly organizes to sink the confirmation.
- Seattle's Liquor Lobby Calls for a Crackdown
Local saloon owners, tired of paying high license fees, push the Mayor to shut down unlicensed competition in pharmacies and cafes.
- City Laborers Find Relief at the Bank
Mayor Phelps intervenes to stop the exploitation of city laborers by 'scrip buyers' who were charging fees to cash municipal pay checks.
- The Political Shuffle of Seattle's Police Chief
In a closed-door meeting, the police commissioners demoted Chief Willard and installed Bolton Rogers, citing a desire for 'better standards of service.'
- The Mayor Can Fire His Police Commissioners — But He Has to Give Them a Hearing First
Judge Langley rules that Mayor Phelps had the power to remove Commissioners Cheasty and Niggle, but that he skipped the required notice and hearing. Now the hearing looks like a formality — with the mayor sitting as his own judge.
- The Mayor Moves Against the Fire Commissioner
Mayor Phelps suspends Fire Commissioner George T. Masel, files five counts of incompetence and meddling with the chief, and calls a special session to hear them.
- The Struggle for a Streamlined Seattle
Mayor Phelps calls for a total overhaul of the city charter, arguing that the existing system is far too expensive and cumbersome for Seattle’s rapid growth.
- Seattle's Mayor Skeptical of Coxey's Army Arrival
As unemployed men march toward Washington D.C. to demand government action, Seattle's mayor offers little hope for public assistance to the local contingent.
- The Secret Move to Fire Seattle’s Police Chief
A closed-door police commission meeting nearly deposed Chief Bolton Rogers. Commissioners disagreed over politics, fitness, and whether the mayor had already shut the effort down.