Thanksgiving Proclamation, 26 October 1863, Newton Edmunds, Governor.
President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the first national Day of Thanksgiving on October 3, 1863, to be observed on the last Thursday in November. Governor Newton Edmunds of Dakota followed suit with this proclamation on October 26, 1863. (1)
2. Essay Assignment - 300 words
Compose an essay that explains how the territory, region, and nation had been affected by the events of 1863. Use examples of events in Dakota and Minnesota that would inspire Governor Edmunds to compose this proclamation.
(1) Official Papers, Office of the Governor, Dakota Territory, Manuscript Series 30076, Box 1, Folder 11. Preserved in State Archives and Historical Research Library, State Historical Society of North Dakota, Bismarck, North Dakota.