This map shows the New Mexico county boundaries as they existed in 1908 when the territory was seeking statehood. It also shows the proposed Curry County, named after then-Territorial Governor George Curry, which became a county in 1909.
RG 233, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives
Event: Statehood (1912)
The Next Candidate for Statehood
Illustration shows Columbia handing a dress labeled “Statehood” to a young woman labeled “New Mexico.”
Waiting for their Stars
Illustration shows Columbia sitting in a chair with the American flag across her lap, she is holding a star and has a pot of stars and sewing materials next to her; standing on the left are three male figures representing “New Mexico, Arizona, [and] Oklahoma”, they are “waiting for their stars” to be added to the flag. The U.S. Capitol building is in the background.
Caption: Columbia (to the three territories) Your stars shall be put on the flag just as soon as those politicians in Congress will let me.
This illustration was published on July 23, 1902.
Greeting President Roosevelt at Albuquerque
This is a photo of President Theodore Roosevelt’s train stop in Albuquerque. During this time, the New Mexico Territory was appealing to the US Government for statehood.  This stereograph was taken in 1903 and is part of the Stereograph Cards Collection at the Library of Congress.
William Taft Signing NM Statehood Bill
The photograph was taken as President William Howard Taft signed the bill to make New Mexico as state in 1912.
This photograph is part of the Harris & Ewing Collection at the Library of Congress.
Joint Resolution 14 to Admit Arizona and New Mexico to US
On August 10, 1911, Congress passed H.J. Res. 14, “to admit the territories of New Mexico and Arizona as States into the Union.” The legislation, however, contained a requirement that the people of Arizona vote on the recall provision as a separate measure. On August 15, 1911, President William Howard Taft vetoed the statehood resolution in large part because Arizona’s constitution allowed for the recall of judges, a provision that he stated went against the need for an independent judiciary. Immediately after Taft vetoed the resolution providing for New Mexico and Arizona statehood, Congress passed S. J. Res. 57, admitting the territories of New Mexico and Arizona as states conditioned upon Arizona voters’ adoption of an amendment to the constitution removing the judiciary recall provision. President Taft approved the resolution on August 21, 1911. Arizona voters removed the recall provision and on January 6, 1912 Taft signed the proclamation making New Mexico the 47th state. The next month, on February 14, 1912, Taft signed the proclamation making Arizona the 48th state, and the last of the contiguous states to be admitted to the union.
Credentials for the first US Senators from NM
These letters authorized Albert Fall and Thomas Catron as Senators from New Mexico. They were written to the president of the Senate from the then Governor William McDonald.
Judge McFie’s Baby Case in the Supreme Court
The article discusses the disposition of the Maxwell land grant in an ownership dispute, which was decided in the Territorial Supreme Court and affirmed by the US Supreme Court. The word “baby” in the title refers to the fact that this was Judge McFie’s first case that he wrote an opinion. The land dispute addresses the selling of the land to the Maxwell land grant by the widow of Alfred Bent.
Joseph’s Joint Resolution
This article discusses the wording associated with the protection of settlers in the Maxwell Land Grant. The articles highlights the decision made by the Secretary of Interior on December 31. 1869, regarding land lying and being situate in the Territory of New Mexico and the State of Colorado lying within what is called the Maxwell Land Grant. The article discusses the position that the Supreme Court took in 1860, where it was considered that the Maxwell land grant had been no part of the public domain since that time. The Secretary of the Interior was to examine the problems related to the occupancy of the land grant and report to Congress.
Controversial guidelines spark Rio Chama River rift
This article discusses the challenge to the San Juan Chama Diversion project by a land grant group who are protective of the water rights provided in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hildago. The article summarizes the rift between the farmers on the Rio Chama River and the New Mexico State Engineer’s Office.