Eli M. Oboler Library
U.S. Congressional Publications Index Sources & Locations
Congressional Hearings & Committee Prints | Congressional Reports & Documents
Congressional Proceedings | Colonial Papers & Documents
Congressional Hearings & Committee Prints
Index Sources - Current
Congressional Universe Available only through ISU.
Congressional Universe is a commercial web index that provides researchers access to documents produced in the federal legislative process, in part since 1970, and almost in its entirety since 1993. This resource is excellent for tracing bills as well as for identifying hot topics discussed on Capitol Hill. This resource also contains links to a number of full-text resources available on the Internet as well as through commercial vendors.
Print Source:
Monthly Catalog of U.S. Government Publications, 1909+
July 1976+ in Documents Stacks under (GP 3.8:) and June 1976 & earlier, on the Index Table in Document Reference.
Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (MOCAT)
Internet Source:
http://catalog.gpo.gov/
Contains publications since January 1994 and is updated daily.
Print Source:
Monthly Catalog of U.S. Government Publications
(GP 3.8: June 1976 & earlier, on Index Table in Doc Ref; later years in Doc Stacks)
Index Sources--Retrospective
Cumulative Index of Congressional Committee Hearings. 9 vols [Covers early to 1980]
(Doc Ref Y 1.3:H 34/2 & Y 1.3:S.Pub.98-16)
Includes subject indexes. Gives titles and committees, dates of hearings, bill or resolution numbers, and Congresses. (SuDoc numbers are only given in 1979-80 cumulation. Use other sources to find SuDoc numbers.)
*Use only for pre-1969 hearings.*
For 1970+ use the C.I.S. Index to Publications of the U.S. Congress. (Doc Ref JK 1 C12)
Monthly Catalog of U.S. Government Publications [1909-1969]
(GP 3.8: June 1976 & earlier, on Index Table in Doc Ref)
Hearings are listed under name of committee in the index.
Checklist of U.S. Public Document [1789-1909]
(Doc Ref GP 3.2:C 41/2)
See pages 1532-1652, the "Y 4 section". See also index under name of committee.
Location Helps - Hearings & Committee Prints
Ask any Third Floor Reference Desk staff member to check the "Y 4" SuDoc number (e.g. Y 4.Sm 1:So 7/3) in the Documents Shelf List to see if ISU has the needed publication and if it is in paper or microfiche.
Microfiche Copies, 3rd Floor
Microfiche (1977+ ) hearings or committee prints are filed by their SuDoc numbers in the GPO microfiche cabinets.
Printed Copies, 3rd floor
Printed copies are located in the document stacks, DOC ROWS 58-75. Use the SuDoc numbers to locate them.
Congressional Reports and Documents
Index Sources - Current
Use sources listed under heading "Congressional Hearings & Committee Prints, Index Sources--Current"
Internet Sources
House & Senate Reports (From GPO Access), beginning with the 104th Congress, 1995/96+
http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/cong006.html
House & Senate Documents (From GPO Access), beginning with the 104th Congress, 1995/96+
http://www.access.gpo.gov/congress/cong005.html
Index Sources - Retrospective
C.I.S. U.S. Serial Set Index. 13 vols, 40 parts [1789-1969]
(Doc Ref Z1223 Z9C65 1975)
Important source. Commercial publisher's revised index to the Congressional Serial Set with author, subject, series, and Serial Set numbers indexes.
C.I.S. Index to U.S. Senate Executive Documents & Reports Covering Documents and Reports Not Printed in the U.S. Serial Set, 1817-1969. 1987.[1817-1969]
(Doc Ref Z1223 Z7 C103 1967, v. 1-2)
v.1, Reference Bibliography; v. 2 Indexes. None are available at ISU.
Document Catalog. 25 vols [1893-1940]
(Doc Ref GP 3.6:)
An old index which gives Serial Set numbers in bold print.
Document Index. 38 vols [1900-1933]
(GP 3.7:)
Similar and more complete information can be found in the newer CIS U.S. Serial Set Index. Old source has a subject approach to the Congressional Serial Set. Documents are listed by series with their Serial Set numbers.
Numerical Lists and Schedules of Volumes [1933-1980]
(Doc Ref GP 3.7/2: 1963-80; earlier 1933-1962 in Doc stacks)
Similar and more complete information can be found in the newer CIS U.S. Serial Set Index and the Serial Set Supplements. Old source contains a list of documents by series with their Serial Set numbers.
U.S. Congressional Serial Set Supplement [1981-1982 (97th Congress)]
(Doc Ref GP 3.34:)
Contains author, subject, and title access to Congressional reports and documents. Lists documents by series and gives Serial Set numbers.
U.S. Congressional Serial Set Catalog: Numerical Lists and Schedule of Volumes [1983-1992 (98th-102nd Congress)]
(Doc Ref GP 3.34)
Similar to above source. Use to locate Serial Set numbers.
Location Helps - Congressional Reports & Documents
American State Papers (1789-1817)
Contains executive and legislative documents of the first 14 Congresses, 1789-1823. Grouped by subject categories such as Foreign Affairs, Indian Affairs, Military Affairs, and Public Lands.
Original print copies: Use Serial Set numbers 09 to 13. Shelved on DOC ROW 78, after Z
Reprinted copies: The New American State Papers. Wilmington, DE: Scholarly Resources Inc., 1972.
Use Serial Set numbers.01-11. Shelved on DOC ROW 78
Microfilm copies: Use Serial Set numbers 01-08, 14-15, 17-34, 36-38. Shelved on DOC ROW 78, after Z
U.S. Congressional Serial Set (1817+ )
Collection of congressional publications. Consists of numbered series of House and Senate reports and documents. (The ISU Library has many of the original paper volumes, but our Serial Set volumes are not complete. A holdings list is available in the Document Shelf List. Ask for assistance at the Third Floor Reference Desk)
Print & Microprint copies: Interfiled on DOC ROWS 78-82.
Microfiche copies: All (96th Congress, 1979+ to date) House and Senate reports and documents are received on microfiche and shelved in the GPO microfiche cabinets under these stem numbers:
Y 1.1/3: Senate documents
Y 1.1/4: Senate treaty documents
Y 1.1/5: Senate reports
Y 1.1/6: Senate executive reports
Y 1.1/7: House documents
Y 1.1/8: House reports
Congressional Proceedings
All are located in the ISU Library Document Stacks (3rd floor) unless noted otherwise.
Full Congressional Proceedings
Congressional Record and Index [1873+]
(X 181- )
Official verbatim report of congressional proceedings. Issued daily when Congress is in session.
Bound copies: See DOC ROWS 76-78
Current daily issues & indexes: See DOC ROWS 77-78
Microfiche copies: 95th Congress, 1977+ See GPO microfiche cabinets
Internet Sources:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cri/
(From GPO Access) Covers 1995+
Congressional Globe and Index [1833-1873]
(X 72 - X 180)
Bound copies: See DOC ROW 76
Register of Debates [1824-1837]
(X 43 - X 71)
Bound copies: See DOC ROW 76
Annals of Congress [1789-1824]
(X 1 - X 42)
Bound copies: See DOC ROW 76
Internet Source [1789-1793, first two Congresses]: (From the Library of Congress)
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwac.html
Documentary History of the First Federal Congress. [1789-1791]
v. 1. Senate Legislative Journal, v. 2. Senate Executive Journal & Related Documents, v.3. House of Representatives Journal. Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1972-1977.
(KF350 D63 1972, v. 1-3, in 2nd floor stacks)
A Century of Law Making For a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates, 1774-1873 (From the Library of Congress).[1774-1873] Includes House and Senate Journals, Senate Executive Journal, Annals of Congress, and Maclay's Journal.
Internet Source:
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lawhome.html
Journals of the Continental Congress, vol. 1-34 plus index. [1774-1789]
(Z 2.5: DOC ROW 78)
Proceedings of the Congress.
Secret Journals of the Continental Congress. 4 vols [1774-1788]
(Z 2.8: DOC ROW 78)
v. 1, Domestic Affairs; v. 2-4, Foreign Affairs
Papers of the Continental Congress. [1774-1789]
3 rolls of microfilm
(Z 2.9: DOC ROW 78)
Senate Proceedings Only
Journal of the Senate. 8 vols [1789-1791, 1795-1814]
(Z 3.4:, DOC ROW 78)
Internet Source [1789-1793, first two Congresses]
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwsj.html
Journal of William Maclay, U.S. Senator From Pennsylvania. (From the Library of Congress)
Contains some of the "few accounts we have of Senate floor activity of the early Congresses."
Internet Source:
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwmj.html
Journal of the Senate of the United States. [1789-1791, 1939+]
(XJS, DOC ROW 78)
Official record of Senate proceedings.
Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States [1901+]
(Y 1.3/4:; DOC ROW 56)
Records of secret Senate meetings, released after the fact.
House Proceedings Only
Journal of the House of Representatives. 10 vols [1789-1817]
(Z 3.5:, DOC ROW 78)
Internet Source [1789-1793, first two Congresses]
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lwhj.html
Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States [1939+]
(XJH; DOC ROW 78)
Official record of House proceedings.
Colonial Papers and Documents
Mar 1774-Jul 1776
American Archives. 4th Series. Containing a Documentary History of the United States of America from the King's Message to Parliament, of March 7, 1774 to the Declaration of Independence. New York: Johnston Reprint Corp., 1972. 6 vols.
(Z 1.1:4/1-6; DOC ROW 78)
Jul 1776-Sep 1783
American Archives. 5th Series. Containing a Documentary History of the United States of America from the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776 to the Definitive Treaty of Peace with Great Britain, Sept. 3, 1783. New York: Johnston Reprint Corp., 1972. 3 vols.
(Z 1.1:5/1-3; DOC ROW 78)