May Feature: Hawaii Statehood
To commemorate Asian/Pacific American Heritage month, the Center for Legislative Archives is featuring its online exhibit on Hawaii statehood. Located in the historical records of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate at the Center are many documents that illustrate the important role of Congress in the statehood process. Here is a small sampling of the many congressional records that highlight Hawaii's long path to statehood.
A cropped version of the brochure pictured here was compiled by the Associated Students of the University of Hawaii outlines student support for Hawaiian statehood. It features reasons for statehood from University of Hawaii students and staff as well as a number of American public figures. It was included as part of a statehood petition sent by University of Hawaii students to Representative Hugh Peterson (D-GA), then chairman of the House Committee on Territories. The brochure is titled "Hawaii: 49th State" because Alaska had not yet entered the union. On August 21, 1959 Hawaii became the 50th state.
