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Government Documents for Historians

A guide to federal government sources useful to historians and recommended by the library.

Congressional Debates

Congressional Record (1873-present)
Daily publication of the speeches on the floor of the House and Senate. Organized in four parts: 
  • House of Representatives
  • Senate
  • Extensions of Remarks (includes text that was not part of floor activity, but was inserted later)
  • Daily Digest (summary of all Congressional activity for that day.)
In addition to the daily edition, a bound edition is produced following each session of Congress.

The bound edition (1873-2009) is available on the govinfo site.

Prior to 1873, Congressional debates were published in The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States (also known as the Annals of Congress, 1789-1824), The Register of Debates in Congress (1824-1837), and The Congressional Globe (1833-1873). Those are summaries, rather than verbatim transcripts.

Other access:
  • prior to 1873: full text online at the Century of Lawmaking site (Library of Congress)
  • 1833-1973: KL microfilm, room 143 KL
  • 1873-1929: KL microfilm, room 143 KL
  • 1929-1993: print,  room 154 KL, call number X (a subject index is available)
  • current: online at govinfo

Other Congressional Publications

Congressional Reports

  • originate from congressional committees and deal with proposed legislation and issues of interest
  • online at Govinfo

Congressional Documents

  • can include reports of executive departments and agencies, as well as committee prints
  • online at Govinfo

Congressional Research Service reports

  • created by experts, the reports present a legislative perspective on topics such as agriculture policy, counterterrorism operations, banking regulation, veterans’ issues, and much more
  • online at CRS Reports
  • online at Archive It  since 2008

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Dominique Daniel
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