Journal of the Council/Senate of the Territory/State of New Mexico: title varies,1847–, var. state printers,1848– (Modern New Mexico comprises
roughly half of what was once a large province of independent Mexico, called Nuevo México, that also included present-day Arizona and part of present-day
Texas. The Mexican province was ceded to the United States after the Mexican-American War on 2 February 1848. Anticipating the treaty, the first New
Mexico territorial assembly met in December, 1847, with the “upper house” initially styled the “Legislative Council.” In 1850 Congress formally
organized the newly-acquired area as the Territory of New Mexico, but not before ceding to Texas that portion of the former Mexican province now known as the
Texas Panhandle. In 1853 the Territory of New Mexico was enlarged in its southern reaches by the Gadsen Purchase. In 1862 Congress split the New
Mexico Territory to create a separate Territory of Arizona, with both entities taking on roughly their present configuration. Statehood came for New Mexico
on 6 January 1912.)(Records which are part of the Early State Records collection were digitized from a microfilm copy of titles originally held the
Library of Congress and the New Mexico State Library).
|