Signature Documents
America250 in Idaho signature documents.
America250 in Idaho’s Signature Documents Project is a curated set of primary source records that trace Idaho’s political, legal, social, and cultural development from territorial days to the late twentieth century. We encourage teachers, students, and citizens to explore these historically significant primary sources.
What people can find on the site:
On the page, visitors can discover descriptive entries and direct links to digitized original documents held at archival repositories across Idaho. Each document features a short contextual note and a “Click here” link that takes users to high-resolution images and metadata in the holding institution’s digital collections.
Signature Documents vs Milestone Documents:
The signature documents highlighted in this project represent pivotal moments in Idaho history and are housed as permanent records at the Idaho State Archives. The milestone documents highlight unique moments in Idaho’s history and represent some of the most viewed and sought-after documents housed in special collections and university archives across the state.
Signature Documents of Idaho
Repository: Idaho State Archives
Organic Act of 1863
“Organic Act of 1863.” An Act to Provide a Temporary Government for the Territory of Idaho.” Draft. 1863. True corrected copy. Idaho State Archives. AR1, Territorial Collection, 20200010. Idaho State Archives.
William Henson Wallace appointment to Governor of Idaho Territory by President Abraham Lincoln
William Henson Wallace appointment to Governor of Idaho Territory by President Abraham Lincoln
An Act to Establish a Common School System, and to Provide for the Maintainance (sic) and Supervision of Public Schools.”
This legislation, enacted in 1866, established a public school system and funding thereof in Idaho Territory.
Proclamation Calling an Election of Delegates to Constitutional Convention
This proclamation, issued by Idaho Territorial Governor E.A. Stevenson, expressed the desire for Idaho statehood and recommended necessary steps for admission – including a constitutional convention to be held on 4 July 1889.
Proclamation on Constitutional Convention and Statehood
This proclamation, issued by Idaho Territorial Governor George L. Shoup, called for the election of delegates for the Idaho constitutional convention to be held on the first Monday in June 1889.
Proclamation for an Election for the Adoption of Rejection or the State Constitution
This proclamation, issued by Idaho Territorial Governor George L. Shoup, called for an election to be held on 5 November 1889 for the adoption or rejection of the Constitution of the State of Idaho.
Idaho Admission Bill
The Idaho Admission Bill was an 1890 act of the United States Congress to admit the state of Idaho into the Union as the 43rd state.
Idaho Senate Bill 103, Providing a Great Seal for the State of Idaho
This legislation from 1891 adopted the design by Emma Edwards Green with the motto “Esto Perpetua” as the Idaho state seal.
House Joint Resolution 1, Ratifying the Proposed Amendment to the Constitution of the United States Extending the Right of Suffrage to Women
This joint resolution by the Idaho Legislature ratified the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, extending the right to vote to women at the federal level. Amendments to the U.S. Constitution require approval by ¾ of the states.
Snake River Basin Adjudication: Final Unified Decree
The Final Unified Decree officially recorded and confirmed the nature and extent of all the water rights determined in the Snake River Basin Adjudication cases.
Snake River Basin Adjudication: Order Amending Final Unified Decree
The 2015 Order Amending Final Unified Decree corrected an omission of the definition of “Trust Water Right” from the 2014 Final Unified Decree.
Survey Map of Idaho by LaFayette Cartee- 1870
This map of public surveys was drawn by LaFayette Cartee, Idaho’s First Surveyor General, in 1870.