Lorena O'English, Social Sciences and Government Information Librarian oenglishATwsu.edu

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The history of the United States and its government is richly documented in government publications from the earliest times to the present. The Washington State University Libraries were granted selective depository status in 1907 but have a government documents collection that reaches back to the beginning of the United States.  Locating documents is not always straightforward but with improved online searching tools and electronic full-text availability it has become easier to find the documents you need. 

For assistance:

• see "Help with Historical Documents" in the left column

Government documents received from 1976 forward were entered into the Libraries' catalog, Search It.

For pre-1976 documents try searching the catalog because many older documents are being digitized and cataloged.  If the item for which you are searching is not in the catalog, 1) use a catalog, index, or finding aid (see the suggestions on this Research Guide) to get the title, authoring agency, year, and other pertinent information; 2) ask a reference librarian for help in finding the document(s) in our tangible collection, in electronic format, or through interlibrary loan.   

For help finding Congressional documents such as bills, hearings, reports, and legislative histories use the guide below See the lists and links below for detailed assistance.

1774-1789  Documents from the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention 1774-1789    A segment of the Library of Congress' American Memory Collection; items include extracts of the journals of Congress, resolutions, proclamations, committee reports, treaties, and early printed versions of the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, all searchable.

1817-1969   U.S. Congressional Serial Set Finding List    Connects Serial Set volume numbers to specific SuDocs numbers from the 15th to the 91st Congresses. Agency annual reports and other serials are listed with their SuDoc and corresponding Serial Set numbers. Includes additional links to Serial Set resources.

1873-current    Table of Congressional Publication Volumes and Presidential Issuances    A numeric guide to Serial Set volumes by Congress published by the Law Librarians' Society of Washington, D.C.

1774-1881    Poore, Benjamin Perley    Descriptive Catalogue of the Government Publications of the United States, Sept. 5, 1774-March 4, 1881.    Washington: Government Printing Office, 1885.  Continued by Ames' Comprehensive Index to the Publications of the United States Government, 1881-1893 and by the Catalogue of Public Documents, 53d- Congress, 1893- .  Holland Ref Doc Y 4.P93/1:G74/1

1789-1909    Checklist of United States Public Documents, 1789-1909.    3rd ed., New York:  Kraus Reprint Corp., 1962 (Reprint of 3rd ed., GPO 1911).  1st-60th Congress.  complete checklist (in SuDoc number order) of judicial, executive, and legislative public documents issues by the U.S. Government.  Terrell Reference Z1223.A11  1962

1789-      CIS U.S. Serial Set Index    Beginning with the American State Papers in 1789 and including the index and carto-bibliography of maps, 1789-1969. Terrell Reference Z1223.Z7 U55   Online:  U.S. Congressional Serial Set (WSU only)

1830-1969     CIS U.S. Congressional Committee Prints Index.    Washington:  Congressional Information Service, Inc., 1980.  21st-91st Congress.  Terrell Reference J74.C66x 1980

1833-1969     CIS U.S. Congressional Committee Hearings Index.   Washington:  Congressional Information Service, Inc., 1981-85.  23rd-91st Congress.  "Congressional committee hearings proceedings were first heald early in the 19th century and became a major component in the deliverative work of Congress during the years following the Civil War." --Introduction.  Terrell Reference KF49.C62 U5

1875-1990     Congressional Record Index.    Washington:  GPO, 1874.  43rd-101st Congress.  The proceedings of Congress.  Terrell Reference Doc X

1881-93     Ames, John G.     Comprehensive Index to the Publications of the United States Government, 1881-1893.   Washington:  GPO, 1905, 2 vol.  Terrell Reference Doc Y4745, Y4746

1893-1940     Catalogue of the Public Documents of the (53rd-76th) Congress and of All Departments of the Government of the United States for the Period from Mr. 4, 1893 to Dec. 31, 1940.    Washington:  GPO.  25 vol.  Terrell Reference Doc GP 3.6

1900-     Monthly Catalog of the United States Government Publications.    Washington:  GPO, 1895-  .  An index to Congressional publications, judiciary materials, and documents issued by executive agencies.  Terrell Reference Doc GP 3.8 (1900-1998);  Online Catalog of U.S. Government Publications

1900-1971      Cumulative Subject Index to the Monthly Catalog of U.S. Government Publications, 1900-1971.     Arlington, VA: Carrollton Press, Inc., 1973-95.  Terrell Reference Z1223.Z7 B9

1941-1970     United States Government Publications Monthly Catalog:  Quinquennial Cumulative Personal Author Index.     Ann Arbor, MI: Pierian Press, 1971-79.  Terrell Reference Doc GP 3.8/a

1951-2002     Congressional Index.    Chicago: Commerce Clearing House, 1937- .  (1951-2002, 82nd-107th Congress).  Terrell Reference J69.C6

1970-       CIS Index to Publications of the United States Congress.     Washington: Congressional Information Service, 1970- . 91st Congress.  Terrell Reference Z1223.Z7 C6;  Online ProQuest Congressional (WSU only)