Introduction Reflecting political and social thought of the time period, American State Papers  contains primary historical documentation of Congress from 1789 through 1838.  Although this is not a comprehensive chronicle of congressional activities, it reprints important executive and legislative documents in ten topical classes related to foreign relations, Indian affairs, finance, commerce and navigation, military affairs, naval affairs, post office department, public lands, claims, as well as miscellaneous documents.  There are 6,278 documents included in this thirty-eight volume series. A few examples of subjects covered are: Lewis and Clark's Expedition; speeches by Presidents; the Black Hawk War; Abolition of Slavery; War of 1812; Whiskey Insurrection; and Powers and Offices of the new Federal government.

Arrangement

Each volume contains its own index covering the contents of that volume and all but one volume has a table of contents.  Documents are arranged by topical class or series and chronological order within each of the ten topic classes.   Ending dates vary between 1823 and 1838 according to subject. Classes of the ASP are numerically designated (01-038) and fit in the Serial Set numerical structure.

Although American State Papers was privately produced under Congressional authority between 1832 and 1861, it is considered to be part of the larger Serial Set. 

Full-Text

Readex, American State Papers, 1789-1838 is a searchable digital database which retrieves full-text documents including illustrations, maps, colored maps, and color plates.  Search by specific keywords, place or personal name, date, citation, or browse options by subject, publication category, standing-committee author, document class, and congress. 

American State Papers: Documents, Legislative and Executive of the United States. Washington: Gales and Seaton, 1833. See the description and arrangement noted above for this paper format edition. (Gov.Pubs. Collection 328.73 U51.3)

CIS U.S. Serial Set. See the description and arrangement noted above for this microfiche format edition. (Main Reference/Gov. Microfiche Collection--drawer 1)

Indexes

CIS U.S. Serial Set Index (volume one). Indexes by subject and keyword, names of individuals and organizations; chronological/numerical lists of reports and documents.  (Main Reference fKF40 .C877)

LexisNexis Congressional (1789-present) is an electronic index to congressional publications.  Use the "advance search" option to search within the Serial Set by name or keyword using appropriate date or congress limits.

Related Resources

Annals of Congress, officially known as The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, cover the 1st Congress through the first session of the 18th Congress, from 1789 to 1824, were compiled between 1834 and 1856, using the best records available, primarily newspaper accounts. (Gov.Pubs. Collection J11 .A5 cong./session)

The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution. Also known as Elliot's Debates, is considered the best source for materials about the national government's transitional period between the closing of the Constitutional Convention in September 1787 and the opening of the First Federal Congress in March 1789. (Main Library JK141 1888a; JK141 1836b; Gov. Pubs. Collection JK141 1836)

Documentary History of the First Federal Congress of the United States of America, March 4, 1789 - March3, 1791. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1972 - .  This is a full record of the debates and actions of the first Congress and includes both official papers and all unofficial material such as letters, newspaper accounts, shorthand transcriptions of debates, diaries, etc.  17 vols. (Gov. Pubs. Collection JK1059 1st .D6)

Early American Imprints, Series I. Evans (1639-1800) This is the digital edition of the American Bibliography by Charles Evans and supplemented by Roger Bristol (print edtions described below) which contains popular press publications reflecting broad aspects of American life in the 17th and 18th centuries.  Topics range from agriculture and literature, slavery and temperance, to foreign affairs and the Revolutionary War.  (Also available in Main Media Services Microfiche 1613)

Evans, Charles.  American Bibliography; a chronological dictionary of all books, pamphlets, and periodical publications printed in the United States of American from the genesis of printing in 1639 down to and including the year 1820.New York, P. Smith, 1941-59. 14 vols. (Government Publications Collection FOLIO Z1215 .E92 1941; Main Reference Collection Z1215 .E92)

Bristol, Roger Pattrell. Supplement to Charles Evans’ American Bibliography. Charlottesville, Published for the Bibliographical Society of America and the Bibliographical Society of the University of Virginia [by] University Press of Virginia [1970]. (Gov. Pubs. Collection Folio Z1215 .E92334; Main Oversize Folio Z1215 .E92334).

Bristol, R. P. Index of printers, publishers, and booksellers indicated by Charles Evans in his American bibliography. Charlottesville, Bibliographical Society of the Univ. of Virginia, (Gov. Pubs. Collection Folio Z1215.E92 B).

Early American Newspapers. (1690-1876) This database contains images and full-text content of historical newspapers that often include accounts of legislative activity and public opinion. 

Federalist Papers , a collection of eighty-five compelling essays by Hamilton, Madison, and Jay that explain and defend the advantages of adopting the proposed Constitution.  (Main Library JK154 1961c; KF4515 .F45 1945)

House and Senate Journals.  From the first session, the United States House of Representatives and Senate have kept a journal of their proceedings in accordance with Article I, Section 5 of the Constitution.  These are minutes of floor actions rather than a transcript of proceedings.  UI holdings are incomplete; House (Gov. Pubs. Collection KF45 .B cong./yr/session; KF45 .B 1826)  Senate (KF45 .A cong./yr./session; KF45 .A 1820)

Journal of William Maclay.  Since Senate sessions were closed to the public at that time, the daily diary kept by Senator Maclay from Pennsylvania offers one of the few accounts and a unique perspective of Senate floor activities during the early Congressional sessions. (in paper format at Main Library E311 .M16; and reprinted in Documentary History... at Gov. Pubs. Collection JK1059 1st .D6 vol. 9).

Journals of the Continental Congress are the records of the daily proceedings of the Congress as kept by the office of its secretary, Charles Thomson.  They were printed in different editions and in several subsequent reprint editions. 34 volumes and index. (Gov.Pubs.Collection J10 .A5; Main Reference/Gov. Fiche CIS US Exec MF LC 405-1 to LC 405-15; Main Library Media Services Film 10177;

Letters of Delegates to Congress attempts to provide all the documents including diaries, public papers, essays, and other documents written by delegates during their years of service in the First and Second Continental Congresses, 1774-1789.  26 volumes (Main Library JK1033 .L47)

The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787. This collection of the documentary records of the Constitutional Convention compiled by Max Farrand in the early twentieth century is considered the best source for discussions of the Constitutional Convention.  Included are notes, revised notes, letters, constitutional plan proposals during the convention. 4 volumes (Main Library JK141 1966 a; Gov.Pubs.Collection 342.732 .U58 1911)

Register of Debates is a record of the congressional debates of the 18th Congress, 2nd Session through the 25th Congress, 1st Session (1824-37). (Gov.Pubs.Collection 328.73 .U51.2); also see: Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856 (Gov.Pubs.Collection J15 .B4)

State Papers and Publick Documents of the United States from the Accession of George Washington to the Presidency, exhibiting a Complete View of our Foreign Relations Since That Time. 3rd ed. Boston, Printed and Published by Thomas B. Wait, 1819. 12 vols. (Gov. Pubs. Collection 328.73 U51.4)

State papers and publick documents of the United States from the accession of Thomas Jefferson to the presidency, exhibiting a complete view of our foreign relations since that time.  Boston, Printed and published by T. B. Wait & sons.1814-1815.  5 vols. (Special Collections x-Collection E310.7 .S83 1814)

Statutes at Large is the official source for the laws and resolutions passed by Congress. To search the online version through LexisNexis Congressional choose "Legislative Histories, Bills, and Laws" then limit search by Congress.