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Newspapers - Moments in History
The aim of Moments in History is to highlight events that shaped the lives of Washington's citizens. As one type of primary source material, historic newspapers record the aspirations and endeavors of early pioneers. Additionally, these newspapers provide a glimpse of the volatile and sometimes painful relationship between settlers and native peoples.
The list of articles under each event is by no means exhaustive, but provides a representative sample of discussions, facts and observations. To research a particular event in more detail, please search by keyword, personal name or browse from a list of predetermined subject areas.
The list of events and references below will grow as more newspapers are added to the digital collection.
John Wilkes Exploring Expedition - 1841 (Extracts from Wilkes' Exploring Expedition reprinted in 1855)
The Whitman Mission and Tragedy - 1847 (The articles are transcripts of Rev. H.H. Spaulding's lectures held in 1866)
William McBean's Rebuttals of Spaulding Lectures - 1866
Land Claims and Laws - 1850-1858
Monticello Convention - 1852
Washington Becomes a Territory - 1853
Treaties with Native Americans - 1854-1857
Indian Wars, 1855-1858
Chief Leschi Controversy - 1855
Martial Law in Washington 1856-1857
Mullan Road - 1859
Pig War (San Juan Boundary Dispute) - 1859
Division & Establishment of Idaho as a Territory - 1863
Seattle Brides (Mercer Girls) - 1864-1866
Severe Winter of 1861-1862
Northern Pacific Railroad In Washington - 1870s-
Nez Perce War - 1877
Chinese in Washington - 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act
Women's Suffrage - 1883-1888
Constitutional Convention - 1889
Washington Gains Statehood - 1889
The Great Fires of 1889
Towns Vie For the State Capital - 1889-1890
John Wilkes Exploring Expedition
- "Extracts from Wilkes' Exploring Expedition"
The Columbian, 5/14/1853, Page 1, Column 4 - "Extracts from Wilkes' Exploring Expedition"
The Columbian, 5/21/1853, Page 1, Column 6 - "Extracts from Wilkes' Exploring Expedition"
The Columbian, 5/28/1853, Page 1, Column 1 - "Extracts from Wilkes' Exploring Expedition"
The Columbian, 6/4/1853, Page 1, Column 1 - "Extracts from Wilkes' Exploring Expedition"
The Columbian, 6/11/1853, Page 1, Column 1 - "Extracts from Wilkes' Exploring Expedition"
The Columbian, 6/18/1853, Page 1, Column 1 - "Extracts from Wilkes' Exploring Expedition"
The Columbian, 6/25/1853, Page 1, Column 1 - "Extracts from Wilkes' Exploring Expedition"
The Columbian, 7/2/1853, Page 1, Column 1 - "Extracts from Wilkes' Exploring Expedition"
The Columbian, 7/9/1853, Page 1, Column 1 - "Extracts from Wilkes' Exploring Expedition"
The Columbian, 7/16/1853, Page 1, Column 1 - "Extracts from Wilkes' Exploring Expedition"
The Columbian, 7/23/1853, Page 1, Column 1 - "Extracts from Wilkes' Exploring Expedition"
The Columbian, 7/30/1853, Page 1, Column 1 - "Extracts from Wilkes' Exploring Expedition"
The Columbian, 8/6/1853, Page 1, Column 1 - "Extracts from Wilkes' Exploring Expedition"
The Columbian, 8/13/1853, Page 1, Column 1 - "Extracts from Wilkes' Exploring Expedition"
The Columbian, 8/20/1853, Page 1, Column 1 - "Extracts from Wilkes' Exploring Expedition"
The Columbian, 8/27/1853, Page 1, Column 1
The Whitman Mission and Tragedy
Lectures by Rev. H. H. Spaulding, Missionary to the Nez Perce Indians
- "Early Oregon Missions. Number One"
Walla Walla Statesman, 2/9/1866, Page 1, Column 3 - "Early Oregon Missions. Number Two"
Walla Walla Statesman, 2/16/1866, Page 1, Column 3 - "Early Oregon Missions. Number Three"
Walla Walla Statesman, 2/23/1866, Page 1, Column 3 - "Early Oregon Missions. Number Four. Their Importance in Securing the Country to Americans"
Walla Walla Statesman,3/2/1866, Page 1, Column 3 - "The Whitman Massacre. Number Five"
Walla Walla Statesman, 3/9/1866, Page 1, Column 3 - "The Whitman Massacre. Number Six"
Walla Walla Statesman, 3/16/1866, Page 4, Column 1 - "The Whitman Massacre. Number Seven. The Escape of Mr. Osborne and Family"
Walla Walla Statesman, 3/23/1866, Page 1, Column 3 - "The Whitman Massacre. Number Eight"
Walla Walla Statesman, 3/30/1866, Page 1, Column 3 - "The Whitman Massacre. Number Nine"
Walla Walla Statesman, 4/6/1866, Page 1, Column 3 - "The Whitman Massacre"
Walla Walla Statesman, 4/13/1866, Page 1, Column 3
William McBean's Rebuttals of Spaulding Lectures
- "The Whitman Massacre" (Letter to the Editor)
Walla Walla Statesman, 3/16/1866, Page 2, Column 4 - "Letter from Mr. McBean" (Letter to the Editor)
Walla Walla Statesman, 3/30/1866, Page 2, Column 5
Land Claims and Laws
- Donation Land Act of 1850
- "Oregon Land Law"
The Columbian, 12/11/1852, Page 1, Column 1 - "Donation Law"
The Columbian, 3/26/1853, Page 2, Column 2 - "Amendments to the Donation Law"
The Columbian, 4/16/1853, Page 1, Column 4 - "Notice to Settlers in Washington and Oregon"
The Columbian, 7/23/1853, Page 1, Column 5
- "Oregon Land Law"
- Pre-Emption Laws
- "Pre-Emption Laws"
Pioneer and Democrat, 4/9/1858, Page 3, Column 2 - "Pre-Emption Laws"
Pioneer and Democrat, 4/30/1858, Page 4, Column 1 - "The U.S. Land Laws Shattered : The Timber Culture and Pre-Emption Laws Repealed--Far Reaching Effects and Sweeping Changes"
Yakima Herald, 3/5/1891, Page 2, Column 4
- "Pre-Emption Laws"
Monticello Convention
- "The New Territory Convention"
The Columbian, 12/4/1852, Page 2, Column 1 - "Proceedings of the New Territory Convention"
The Columbian, 12/11/1852, Page 1, Column 4 - "Memorial"
The Columbian, 12/11/1852, Page 1, Column 6
Washington Becomes a Territory
- "The Territory of Washington"
The Columbian, 4/16/1853, Page 2, Column 1 - "An Act to Establish the Territorial Government of Washington"
The Columbian, 5/21/1853, Page 1, Column 1
Treaties with Native Americans
- "Indian Treaties" (Point Elliott and Point No Point Treaties)
Pioneer and Democrat, 2/3/1855, Page 2, Column 1 - "Indian Treaties" (Treaty of Neah Bay)
Pioneer and Democrat, 2/10/1855, Page 2, Column 5 - "Treaty Between the United States and the Nisqually and Other Bands of Indians" (Medicine Creek Treaty)
Pioneer and Democrat, 7/20/1855, Page 3, Column 1 - "[Notice--Treaty with the Yakima Nation]" (Treaty of Yakama)
Pioneer and Democrat, 7/6/1855, Page 3, Column 5 - "[Notice--Treaty with the Flathead, Koo-te-nay and Pen d'Oreille Indian Tribes]" (Hell Gate Treaty)
Pioneer and Democrat, 8/17/1855, Page 3, Column 1 - "Notice" (Nez Perce Treaty)
Pugent Sound Courier, 9/21/1855, Page 3, Column 1 - "An Emmissary Abroad!: The Indian War in Oregon and Washington—Correspondence of the Alta California—Vindication of the Washington and Oregon Authorities"
Pioneer and Democrat, 2/22/1856, Page 2, Column 1 - "Indian Affairs—Treaties, &c."
Pioneer and Democrat, 10/8/1858, Page 2, Column 1 - "Payment to the Nisqually Indians" (Medicine Creek Treaty)
Pioneer and Democrat, 12/3/1858, Page 2, Column 1
Indian Wars, 1855-1858
- Battle%20of%20Four%20Lakes%0D%0A%09%0D%0A%09%09
- "Another Indian Fight!!"
Pioneer and Democrat, 9/17/1858, Page 3, Column 2 - "The Late Victory of Col. Wright!!"
Pioneer and Democrat, 9/24/1858, Page 3, Column 1 - "Continued Brilliant Success of the U.S. Troops Under Col. Wright" (Includes information about the Battle of Spokane Plains and the Palouse Horse Slaughter)
Pioneer and Democrat, 10/8/1858, Page 1, Column 5
- "Another Indian Fight!!"
- Indian War Claims
- “Indian War Claims”
Pioneer and Democrat, 11/6/1857, Page 2, Column 6 - “Office Sup't. Indian Affairs, Salem, O.T., Oct. 15, '57”
Pioneer and Democrat, 11/6/1857, Page 3, Column 1 - "The War and Other Claims Against The United States"
Pioneer and Democrat, 11/13/1857, Page 1, Column 2 - "Oregon and Washington War Debts"
Pioneer and Democrat, 7/9/1858, Page 1, Column 4 - "Speech of Hon. Isaac I. Stevens on the Washington and Oregon War Claims"
Pioneer and Democrat, 8/6/1858, Page 1, Column 1
Pioneer and Democrat, 8/6/1858, continued on Page 2, Column 1 - "The War Debt"
Pioneer and Democrat, 4/8/1859, Page 1, Column 2 - "Interesting Letter from Washington"
Pioneer and Democrat, 4/22/1859, Page 1, Column 1 - "Speech of Hon. I. I. Stevens of Washington Territory, Delivered in the House of Representatives, February 21, 1859"
Pioneer and Democrat, 5/6/1859, Page 1, Column 1 - "Claims Growing Out of Indian Hostilities in Oregon and Washington"
Pioneer and Democrat, 5/27/1859, Page 1, Column 1
Pioneer and Democrat, 5/27/1859, continued on Page 4, Column 1
Pioneer and Democrat, 5/27/1859 (Supplement), continued on Page 5, Column 1
Pioneer and Democrat, 5/27/1859 (Supplement), continued on Page 6, Column 1
Pioneer and Democrat, 5/27/1859 continued from Supplement, Page 2, Column 1 - "Third Auditor's Report"
Puget Sound Herald, 6/3/1859, Page 2, Column 1 - "Third Auditor's Report"
Puget Sound Herald, 6/10/1859, Page 3, Column 1 - "Third Auditor's Report"
Puget Sound Herald, 6/17/1859, Page 3, Column 1 - "Statement of Mr. Chas. E. Weed Concerning the Third Auditor's Report"
Pioneer and Democrat, 6/17/1859, Page 1, Column 1 - "Third Auditor's Report"
Puget Sound Herald, 6/24/1859, Page 3, Column 1 - "Proceedings of the Indian War Scrip Convention in Oregon"
Pioneer and Democrat, 8/26/1859, Page 1, Column 3 - "Letter of Capt. R. Ingalls, U.S.A., to the Third Auditor"
Pioneer and Democrat, 9/23/1859, Page 1, Column 1 - "Third Auditor's Report"
Pioneer and Democrat, 4/20/1860, Page 2, Column 1 - "Remarks of Hon. I. I. Stevens, of Washington, on the War Expenses of Washington and Oregon"
Pioneer and Democrat, 5/18/1860, Page 1, Column 1
- “Indian War Claims”
Chief Leschi Controversy
- "Trial and Conviction of Leschi"
Pioneer and Democrat, 3/20/1857, Page 2, Column 3 - "Evidence and Proceedings in the Case of Leschi"
Pioneer and Democrat, 3/27/1857, Page 2, Column 3 - "Proceedings of the Supreme Court"
Pioneer and Democrat, 12/25/1857, Page 2, Column 5 - "Supreme Court of Washington Territory, December Term A. D. 1857—Territory of Washington vs. Leschi, a Nesqually Indian Chief Charged with Murder"
Pioneer and Democrat, 1/8/1858, Page 1, Column 2 - "Mass Meeting of the Citizens of Washington Territory"
Pioneer and Democrat, 1/29/1858, Page 2, Column 4 - "Report of the Committee Appointed to Investigate the Proceedings at Steilacoom on Friday, January 22d, 1858, and Report Resolutions Expressing the Sense of the Citizens on the Subject"
Pioneer and Democrat, 1/29/1858, Page 2, Column 5
Pioneer and Democrat, 1/29/1858, continued on Page 3, Column 1 - "Mass Meeting of the Citizens of Pierce County, W. T."
Pioneer and Democrat, 2/12/1858, Page 1, Column 5 - "Execution of Leschi"
Pioneer and Democrat, 2/26/1858, Page 2, Column 1
Martial Law in Washington
- "Representation: To the Honorables J. Patton Anderson and Joseph Lane, Delegates in Congress from the Territories of Oregon and Washington"
Pioneer and Democrat, 7/11/1856, Page 2, Column 5 - "Representation: To the Honorables J. Patton Anderson and Joseph Lane, Delegates in Congress from the Territories of Oregon and Washington [continued]"
Pioneer and Democrat, 7/11/1856, Page 3, Column 1 - "XXXIV Congress, First Session – Discussion in Senate, July 2d, '56 on the Subject of Martial Law in Washington Territory"
Pioneer and Democrat, 8/29/1856, Page 1, Column 2 - "Martial Law Again"
Pioneer and Democrat, 4/10/1857, Page 2, Column 1 - "[Reprimand of Gov. Stevens by Secretary of State Marcy for Declaration of Martial Law]"
Pioneer and Democrat, 6/26/1857, Page 2, Column 5
Mullan Road
- "Important Military Road in Washington Territory from Fort Walla-Walla to Fort Benton, on the Upper Missouri"
Pioneer and Democrat, 5/21/1858, Page 2, Column 5 - "The Walla-Walla and St. Paul Military Road"
Pioneer and Democrat, 4/29/1859, Page 2, Column 3 - "Lieut. Mullan's Military Road"
Puget Sound Herald, 4/29/1859, Page 2, Column 2 - "Operations of the Fort Benton Military Road Party"
Pioneer and Democrat, 7/29/1859, Page 1, Column 1 - "Columbia and Missouri Wagons Roads"
Puget Sound Herald, 11/4/1859, Page 2, Column 1 - "Lieut. Mullan's Progress"
Puget Sound Herald, 11/11/1859, Page 2, Column 1 - "Fort Benton Military Wagon Road"
Puget Sound Herald, 11/18/1859, Page 2, Column 1 - "Lieut. Mullan's Expedition"
Puget Sound Herald, 1/13/1860, Page 2, Column 5 - "Arrival of Lieut. Mullan at Fort Benton"
Pioneer and Democrat, 9/7/1860, Page 3, Column 1 - "The Mullan Road"
Walla Walla Statesman, 11/10/1865, Page 2, Column 3 - "The Mullan Road Again"
Walla Walla Statesman, 11/17/1865, Page 2, Column 2 - "Sensible"
Walla Walla Statesman, 1/5/1866, Page 2, Column 1 - "The Mullan Road"
Walla Walla Statesman, 1/26/1866, Page 2, Column 2 - "The Mullan Road"
Walla Walla Statesman, 5/22/1868, Page 3, Column 3 - "The Mullan Road"
The Spokan Times, 8/7/1879, Page 3, Column 1 - "The Mullan Road"
The Spokan Times, 12/4/1879, Page 3, Column 1 - "The Mullan Road"
The Spokan Times, 2/12/1880, Page 3, Column 1 - "The Mullan Road"
The Spokan Times, 7/21/1881, Page 2, Column 2 - "[The Mullan Tunnel]"
The Spokan Times, 12/6/1881, Page 1, Column 8
Pig War (San Juan Boundary Dispute)
- “Reply to the Report Upon the Claims for Damage Assessed by Gov. Douglas, Victoria, V. I.”
Pioneer and Democrat, 4/30/1858, Page 2, Column 1 - "San Juan Island"
Puget Sound Herald, 2/25/1859, Page 2, Column 3 - “The Disputed Boundary”
Pioneer and Democrat, 7/29/1859, Page 2, Column 1 - “Important Military Movements”
Puget Sound Herald, 7/29/1859, Page 2, Column 1 - “[Cutlar Kills Boar on San Juan Island]”
Pioneer and Democrat, 8/5/1859, Page 2, Column 4 - “John Bull in Trouble”
Puget Sound Herald, 8/5/1859, Page 2, Column 1 - “Movement of Troops”
Puget Sound Herald, 8/12/1859, Page 2, Column 2 - “From San Juan Island”
Puget Sound Herald, 8/12/1859, Page 2, Column 3 - “Gov. Douglas' Message on the San Juan Imbroglio”
Pioneer and Democrat, 8/19/1859, Page 2, Column 1 - “The San Juan Difficulty”
Puget Sound Herald, 8/19/1859, Page 2, Column 1 - “From Victoria”
Puget Sound Herald, 8/26/1859, Page 2, Column 2 - “Gen. Harney's Letter to Gov. Douglas”
Pioneer and Democrat, 9/2/1859, Page 1, Column 2 - “Reply of Gov. Douglas to Gen. Harney”
Pioneer and Democrat, 9/2/1859, Page 1, Column 2 - “Gen. Harney's Second Letter to Gov. Douglas”
Pioneer and Democrat, 9/16/1859, Page 2, Column 3 - "A Scribbler for the Times"
Pioneer and Democrat, 10/14/1859, Page 2, Column 1 - "The San Juan Question"
Puget Sound Herald, 10/28/1859, Page 2, Column 1 - "The Duke of Cambridge Coming"
Puget Sound Herald, 10/28/1859, Page 2, Column 4 - "The Bellevue Difficulty"
Puget Sound Herald, 11/11/1859, Page 2, Column 2 - "The San Juan Island Question"
Puget Sound Herald, 11/18/1859, Page 2, Column 1 - "The San Juan Affair"
Puget Sound Herald, 12/2/1859, Page 2, Column 2 - “Washington Territory: Historical, Geographical and Statistical”
Pioneer and Democrat, 6/15/1860, Page 1, Column 1 - “Gen. Harney and the San Juan Question – Impudent Demands of England”
Pioneer and Democrat, 8/24/1860, Page 2, Column 5
Division & Establishment of Idaho as a Territory
- "Division - A Voice from Idaho"
Washington Statesman, 2/7/1863, Page 4, Column 1 - "The New Territory"
Washington Statesman, 4/25/1863, Page 3, Column 1 - "Boundaries of Idaho Territory"
Washington Statesman, 5/30/1863, Page 4, Column 1
Seattle Brides (Mercer Girls)
- “Arrival Extraordinary”
Seattle Gazette, 5/17/1864, Page 2, Column 3 - “Returned”
Seattle Gazette, 5/28/1864, Page 2, Column 3 - “Died” (Obituary of one of the Mercer Girls)
Seattle Weekly Gazette, 8/27/1864, Page 2, Column 5 - “Immigration” (Comments on A. S. Mercer's efforts)
Seattle Weekly Gazette, 4/27/1865, Page 1, Column 1 - “Letter from Hon. A. S. Mercer”
Seattle Weekly Gazette, 9/16/1865, Page 2, Column 1 - “Proceedings of a Meeting of the Citizens of Seattle, Held on the 16th inst., to Devise Ways and Means for the Disposition of A. S. Mercer's Party of Immigrants”
Seattle Weekly Gazette, 9/23/1865, Page 2, Column 2 - “Immigration Meeting at Olympia”
Seattle Weekly Gazette, 10/7/1865, Page 2, Column 2 - “The Mercer Party”
Seattle Weekly Gazette, 10/14/1865, Page 2, Column 2 - “The Anxious and Aimless”
Seattle Weekly Gazette, 11/18/1865, Page 2, Column 2 - “Exodus”
Seattle Weekly Gazette, 12/9/1865, Page 1, Column 4 - “Female Immigration”
Seattle Weekly Gazette, 12/29/1865, Page 2, Column 1 - “The Mercer Emigration Scheme”
Seattle Weekly Gazette, 2/2/1866, Page 2, Column 3
Severe Winter of 1861-1862
- "Farmers Should Prepare for Winter"
Washington Statesman, 1/10/1862, Page 2, Column 2 - "The Weather"
Washington Statesman, 1/10/1862, Page 2, Column 5 - "The Severe Season"
Washington Statesman, 1/25/1862, Page 2, Column 1 - "Great Loss of Stock"
Washington Statesman, 1/25/1862, Page 2, Column 3 - "The Cold Winter—Loss of Stock"
Washington Statesman, 2/22/1862, Page 2, Column 1
Northern Pacific Railroad In Washington
- Villard's Projects
Puget Sound Mail, 2/4/1882, Page 2, Column 1
Nez Perce War
- "Coming This Way"
Spokane Falls Review, 4/25/1885, Page 3, Column 5
Chinese in Washington
- "The Chinese Problem"
Vancouver Register, 9/25/1869, Page 2, Column 2 (text is obscured) - "The Chinese Problem" (continued)
Vancouver Register, 10/2/1869, Page 2, Column 2 - "The President's Veto"
Puget Sound Mail, 4/15/1882, Page 2, Column 1 - "Governor's Proclamation"
Spokane Falls Review, 11/7/1885, Page 3, Column 4
Women's Suffrage
- "Female Suffrage at Spokane"
Spokane Falls Review, 5/2/1885, Page 3, Column 2
Constitutional Convention
- "Constitutional Convention At North Yakima"
Yakima Herald, 2/2/1889, Page 2, Column 2 - "Constitutional Convention"
Yakima Herald, 2/14/1889, Page 2, Column 2 - [Location of Constitutional Convention Uncertain]
Yakima Herald, 2/28/1889, Page 2, Column 2 - "The Apportionment -- The Work of Dividing up the Territory Completed"
Yakima Herald, 4/18/1889, Page 1, Column 7 - "The Constitutional Builders"
Yakima Herald, 7/11/1889, Page 3, Column 2 - "Town Talk"
Yakima Herald, 8/1/1889, Page 2, Column 2 - "Legislating Through Constitutional Enactments"
Yakima Herald, 7/25/1889, Page 2, Column 3 - "Capital Correspondence"
Yakima Herald, 8/1/1889, Page 2, Column 2 - "Grateful for our Liberties"
Yakima Herald, 8/8/1889, Page 1, Column 7 - "Grateful and Ungrateful"
Yakima Herald, 8/8/1889, Page 6, Column 1 - "The Constitution : a Synopsis of the Great Document Which the Delegates Framed"
Yakima Herald, 9/5/1889, Page 5, Column 1
Washington Gains Statehood
- “Special to the ‘Herald'”
Yakima Herald, 2/21/1889, Page 3, Column 3 - “The Admission Bill”
Yakima Herald, 2/28/1889, Page 6, Column 5 - “The Admission Act—The Law Creating the Three New States”
Yakima Herald, 3/7/1889, Page 1, Column 3 - “An Interesting Problem”
Yakima Herald, 3/7/1889, Page 4, Column 1
The Great Fires of 1889
- [Wooden buildings in City Heart Should Be Banned]
Yakima Herald, 7/11/1889, Page 2, Column 2 - "Ellensburgh's Misfortune"
Yakima Herald, 7/11/1889, Page 2, Column 1 - "Ellensburgh's Hard Fate"
Yakima Herald, 7/11/1889, Page 3, Column 4
Towns Vie For the State Capital
- "The Capital Question"
Yakima Herald, 9/12/1889, Page 2, Column 3 - "The State Capital"
Lynden Pioneer Press, 5/22/1890, Page 2, Column 1 - "Locating the Capital"
Yakima Herald, 7/17/1890, Page 5, Column 3 - "To The Voters Of Washington"
Yakima Herald, 10/30/1890, Page 2, Column 4 - "Capital Figures"
Yakima Herald, 12/11/1890, Page 3, Column 1