U.S. Congress. The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States [1789-1873].
- Location: McKeldin Library
Call Number: Microfilm VARIOUS CALL NUMBERS
Description
This collection reproduces in full Congressional debates between 1789 and 1873.
The debates are filmed in chronological order.
During this period Congressional debates were considered especially inportant because they were the focus of legislative decision making.
The debates of the U.S. Congress have been reported in four series of publications. In addition to the three mentioned above, debates appear in the Congressional Record (1st Session of the 43rd Congress and thereafter, 1873 to date).
The Register of Debates and The Congressional Globe overlap for a short period of time.
Indexes to the early years of the debates are not very helpful. The indexes to the House and Senate journals are of greater utility. See United States. Congress. House. The Journal of the House of Representatives (J 45.A3 folio)& United States. Congress. Senate. Journal of the Senate of the United States of America (J 35.A3 Folio)
Due to the complicated nature of government documents, users may find helpful Laurence F. Schmeckebier's Government Publications and Their Use (Ref Z 1223.Z7S3 1969). Information about the debates of Congress is located on the following pages: 134-148, 142-143 and 148-150. McKelding Library is designated as a depository for government documents; therefore, we hold much of this material in hard copy. The card catalog should be consulted for complete holding. See the filing order guide card for United States. Congress.
This series is generally known by the shore title Annals of Congress.
Index/Guide
The following source provides more detailed information about the contents of each microfilm reel in the collection:- Docs M-Film J11.A5
- Annals of Congress, 1st Congress to End of 1st Session of The 18th Congress, 1789-1824): 10 Reels.
- Docs M-Film J11.D5
- Register of Debates, 2nd Session of the 18th Congress to the end of the 1st Session of the 25th Congress, 1824-1837). 6 reels.
- Docs M-Film J11.G5
- The Congressional Globe. (1st session of the 23rd congress to the end of the 42nd congress, 1833-1873). 38 Reels.
