Indexes to Historical U.S. Federal Publications
Arranged by Date of Coverage (oldest to more recent)

Poore, Benjamin Perley.  A Descriptive Catalogue of the Government Publications of the United States, Sept. 5, 1774-March 4, 1881.  48th Congress, 2nd Session, Senate Misc. Doc. 67.  Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1885. (GovPubs Collection fZ1223 .A 1885c)

This is the earliest index that attempts a complete listing of publications from all three branches of government.  Retrospectively compiled from the previous 100 years of "the Republic", there are gaps in coverage particularly  executive branch (agency/departmental) publications.  Arranged chronologically without reference to location of the publication.  Minimal subject indexing. 

Greely, Adolphus Washington.  Public Documents of the First Fourteen Congresses, 1789-1817: Papers Relating to Early Congressional Documents. Washington: D.C.: GPO, 1900. (GovPubs Collection Z1223 .A 1900)

This guide to congressional documents is arranged in chronological order the Congress, followed by a name index.  It overlaps somewhat with Poore, although Greely did not attempt to include departmental publications.

Superintendent of Documents.  Checklist of United States Public Documents, 1789-1909.  3rd rev. ed. 2 vol.  Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1911.

Arranged by classification number,  the Checklist serves as a companion to Poore's in locating publications.  Indexing is by issuing department, agency, or committee.   Congressional publications are listed first, followed by agency reports.  (GovPubs Collection Z1223 .A113 1911a)  Click here for an online version of the Checklist from Evergreen State College.

Lester, Daniel W. et al, compilers.  Cumulative Title Index to United State Public Documents, 1798-1976. Arlington, VA: United State Historical Documents Institute, 1979-1982.  16 vols.  (Reference South fZ1223 .Z7 L47)

A single alphabetical listing of all titles (approximately 1.3 million entries) held in the GPO Public Documents Library (now part of the National Archives and Records Administration).  Excluded are publications that are part of the U.S. Congressional Serial Set .

Ames, John G.  Comprehensive Index to the Publications of the United States Government, 1881-1893. 58th Congress, 2nd Session. House Document 754.  2 vols.  Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1905.  (Reference A1223 .A 1905)

This source begins roughly where Poore stops and has more complete coverage although departmental publications are minimally represented.  The index is arranged by subject, citations are arranged by keyword, and a personal name index is included in volume two.  Session and series volume for the Congressional Serial Set are included. (Reference Z1223 .A 1905)

Hickcox, John H.  Hickcox's Monthly Catalog with Superintendent of Documents Classification (SuDoc) numbers added by Mary Elizabeth Poole.  Reprinted ed. Arlington, VA: Carrollton Press, 1978.  10 vols. in 6.

This is a precursor of the Monthly Catalog.  It contains brief bibliographic information for each entry and is arranged in one dictionary catalog by personal and corporate author.  Indexing by author and subject.

Superintendent of Documents.  Catalog of the Public Documents of Congress and of Other Departments of the Government of the United States for the Period of March 4, 1893-December 31, 1940. Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1896-1945.  25 vols.  (GovPubs Collection 016.353 .U582)

Known as the Document Catalog, this is the most comprehensive and accurate of indexes to government publications, including the Monthly Catalog for the same time period.  Painstakingly accurate, but was continually behind publishing schedule which lead to its demise in 1940. This index lists entries by author, subject and some by title. 

Superintendent of Documents. Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications (title varies slightly between 1895-present).  Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1895-2004.  (Reference South Z1223 .A18 from 1895-June 1976; GovPubs. Collection Z1223 .A18 from July 1976-2004.  Online coverage from 1976-present.

This is the most comprehensive ongoing index of federal government publications. From 1940 forward, MoCat became the only authoritative finding tool.  Older entries contain less information than more recent although an abbreviated format was instituted in 2000.  Indexed by subject, title, and author; later volumes are also indexed by contract number, report number, stock number, and key words in the title.  A periodicals supplement lists serial publications that are issued more than three times annually. Congressional publications are not comprehensively represented.

Cumulative Indexes to the Monthly Catalog:

Kanely, Edna A.  Cumulative Subject Index to Hickcox's Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications, 1885-1895.  Arlington, VA: Carrollton Press, 1981. 3 vols. (GovPubs Collection Z1223 .Z7H5 Index 1981)

A cumulative subject index with selective individual author entries and references.  For each entry, a two-digit number in parentheses tells the year of the Monthly Catalog in which the title appeared. The page number follows.

Kanely, Edna A. Cumulative Subject Index to Hickcox's Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications, 1895-1899.  Washington, D.C.: Carrollton Press,1977.  2 vols. (GovPubs Collection Z1223 .A18 Index 1895-1899)

Provides access to the earliest Monthly Catalog issues, which has no indexes between December 1897 and December 1899.  It includes selective individual author entries and references.  Reference to an item's appearance in Monthly Catalog is the same as in the previous source.

Buchanan, William W. and Edna A. Kanely.  Cumulative Subject Index to the Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications, 1900-1971.  Washington, D.C.: Carrollton Press, 1973-1975. 15 vols.  (Reference South fZ1223 .A181)

This index merges all previously published cumulative subject indexes to the Monthly Catalog. Reference to an item's appearance in the Monthly Catalog is the same as in the previous two sources.

Przebienda, Edward, ed. Decennial Cumulative Personal Author Index. 2 vols. Ann Arbor, MI: Pierian Press, 1971.  (GovPubs Collection Z1223 .A18 Author Index, yrs.)

Arranged alphabetically by author, this source utilizes a broad interpretation of authorship, editors, indexers, and translators.  Especially useful for the period 1947-1960, when the Monthly Catalog did not index by author.  Citation for each entry's appearance in Monthly Catalog is provided.  Volume one covers 1941-1950; volume two covers 1951-1960.

Przebienda, Edward, ed.  Quinquennial Cumulative Personal Author Index. 3 vols.  Ann Arbor, MI: Pierian Press, 1972-1979. (GovPubs Collection Z1223 .A18 Author Index, yrs.)

This is similar to the previous source and provides complete name indexing when the Monthly Catalog did not index by author or indexed by first name only. v.1 1961-65; v. 2 1966-70; v. 3 1971-75.

Related Resource:

Guide to U.S. Government Publications. McLean, VA: Documents Index. (Main Reference Z1223 .Z7 G8)

Formerly known as Andriot after its original editor, this is a reliable source for verifying government serial publications.  Also useful for tracing abolished agencies or changes within the organization of governmental agencies. 

Revised, M. Mason
May 2007