United States President William H. Taft signing New Mexico Enabling Act, Washington, D.C.
President Taft Signing Statehood Proclamation
1912
Photo Archives, Palace of the Governors, Santa Fe, negative no. 023027
President Taft signed the
proclamation admitting New Mexico as the 47th state, at 1:35 P.M.,
January 6, 1912. As noted on the website of the New Mexico Office of the State Historian, "After signing the long awaited document, the President
turned to the delegation and said, 'Well, it is all over. I am glad to
give you life. I hope you will be healthy.' New Mexico's long struggle
for statehood was finally over."