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Territories to Statehood, the West: Topics in Chronicling America

From 1890 to 1907, the Wyoming, Utah and Okalahoma territories joined the union as new states. This guide provides access to materials related to the "West Territories to Statehood" in the Chronicling America digital collection of historic newspapers.

Introduction

"Map of Wyoming, showing railroad extensions, under-way and projected." December 31, 1905. The Salt Lake Herald (Salt lake City, UT), Image 27. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers.

Referred to as "the land of fertility and progress," Oklahoma enters into statehood November 16, 1907, becoming the country's 46th state. Two other western territories preceded Oklahoma's statehood, with Wyoming joining the Union on July 10, 1890, and Utah being admitted on January 4, 1896. Read more about it!

The information in this guide focuses on primary source materials found in the digitized historic newspapers from the digital collection Chronicling America.

The timeline below highlights important dates related to this topic and a section of this guide provides some suggested search strategies for further research in the collection.

Timeline

July 10, 1890 President Benjamin Harrison signs Wyoming's statehood bill allowing Wyoming to join the Union as the 44th state.
January 4, 1896 Utah admitted to the Union as the 45th state.
November 16, 1907 Oklahoma is voted into statehood. President Theodore Roosevelt issued Presidential Proclamation no. 780, establishing Oklahoma as the 46th state in the Union.