Petition and map from John Muir and other founders of Sierra Club protesting a bill to reduce the size of Yosemite National Park. 01/02/1893
This document is the first official conservation pronouncement of the then-nascent Sierra Club, a petition to Congress protesting the Caminetti bill (H.R. 5764), proposed in 1892 to protect mining, livestock, and timber interests by reducing the size of the newly established Yosemite National Park. Ultimately, the Caminetti bill died in committee.
via DocsTeach
On April 16, 1812 Eli Whitney petitioned Congress for renewal of the his patent on the cotton gin. In his petition, Whitney recounted the circumstances that led him to work on the gin and reviewed events that had transpired since the invention. Above are the first and last pages of his 8-page petition. Congress did not grant his request to renew the patent.
Petition of Eli Whitney requesting the renewal of his patent on the cotton gin, 4/16/1812, HR 12A-F11.2, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 306631)
On January 22, 1874, the U.S. House of Representatives referred this petition to the Judiciary Committee on behalf of Susan B. Anthony. Anthony was petitioning Congress for the remission of a fine imposed for voting illegally in the 1873 federal election. While both chambers of Congress considered remitting or reducing the fine, they ultimately decided not to take action as it was still illegal for women to vote in federal elections in the United States. To see more documents relating to woman suffrage, visit our Image Gallery.
First and last pages of a petition from Susan B. Anthony, 1/12/1874, HR43A-D1, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives (ARC 306559)
