Introduction

The U.S. Congressional Serial Set (1817-present) is a continuing series of over 14,000 sequentially numbered volumes of Congressional Reports, Documents, and Journals of both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate from the 15th Congress to the present.  The Serial Set also includes administrative reports, annual reports of agencies, internal manuals, special reports, and congressional directories making the Serial Set one of the most important sources of primary research material for American history and the social sciences. Maps and illustrations may accompany corresponding text in documents dealing with political and military history; social, ethnic and cultural history; genealogy; explorations; international relations; and commerce and industrial development.

American State Papers, which covers the 1st through 14th Congresses (1789-1838) is considered part of the Serial Set, although it was compiled retrospectively in the 19th century. Research Guide

Full-text

U.S. Congressional Serial Set (Readex) When completed in 2009, this digital edition will contain all documents, maps, and illustrations contained in the Serial Set from 1817 to 1980.   One may search by keyword, individual name, date, and full-text or browse by subject, publication type, committee, and Congress.  Links to related topics are presented to suggest contextual relationships or alternative research paths.

In Print: Government Publication Storage (1817–1939, incomplete holdings; 1940-present UI Law Library). For volumes in GP Storage ask in Special Collections for volume retrieval.
In Microformat: CIS U.S. Serial Set (Government Publications Microfice Collection - beginning in drawer 1)

American State Papers (Readex) This digital edition may be searched by keyword, individual name, date, pand full-text or browse by subject, publication type, committee, and Congress from 1789-1838.  Links to related topics are presented to suggest contextual relationships or alternative research paths.

In Print: American State Papers: Documents, Legislative and Executive of the United States. Washington: Gales and Seaton, 1833. (Gov. Pubs. Collection 328.73 U51.3)
In Microformat: CIS U.S. Serial Set (Government Publications Microfice Collection - beginning in drawer 1)

Indexes

CIS U.S. Serial Set Index.  This multivolume print index may be searched by subject/name or by document number in chronologically arranged volumes. (Main Reference fKF40 .C877)

LexisNexis Congressional   Indexes both the American State Papers and the Serial Set by subject and keyword, individual names, and organizations; chronological/numerical lists of reports and documents.  Includes carto-bibliography of all maps in the set.  Choose 'Advance Search' and select "Serial Set."

Related Resources

Congressional Debates:

Annals of Congress, (1789–1824) 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)
Register of Debates(1824–1837) 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)
Congressional Globe(1833–1873) The Globe is the record of debates, although by the mid-nineteenth century owing to the development of shorthand became a closer proximity to the current transcript-style record of debates. (Gov. Pubs. Collection J11 .G5)
Congressional Record. (1873-present) The Congressional Record contains remarks and debates in transcript form, as well as speeches by Senators and Representatives of the U.S. Congress. (Research Guide) Washington, D.C., GPO, 1873– . (Gov.Pubs. Collection J11 .R5)

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. 

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.  House (Gov. Pubs. Collection KF45 .B cong./yr/session; KF45 .B 1826)  Senate (KF45 .A cong./yr./session; KF45 .A 1820)

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;

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. 

Revised, M. Mason
August 2007