Download or Request our Publications
The Office of the Historian has created several print publications. The most efficient method of accessing these materials is through downloads, websites, and e-books listed below. A limited quantity of print copies are available for educators. Please e-mail history@mail.house.gov for information.
Short Histories
The People’s House: A Guide to Its History, Spaces, and Traditions
In 1921, Clerk William Tyler Page held what one observer called a “training school” for first-term legislators for the first time. Today, the Committee on House Administration, House Officers, and House leadership conduct new-Member orientation shortly after each general election. This booklet provides some fundamentals about the House’s history, its people, geography, artwork, and proceedings.
“Women Must Be Empowered”: The U.S. House of Representatives and the Nineteenth Amendment
House Joint Resolution 1 was one of more than 1,200 pieces of legislation introduced on Opening Day of the 66th Congress (1919–1921), May 19, 1919. Most were mundane; H.J. Res. 1 was anything but. Read the story of how the U.S. House of Representatives passed the 19th Amendment.
“We Are In Earnest For Our Rights”: Representative Joseph H. Rainey and the Struggle for Reconstruction
Joseph Rainey, who became the first African-American Representative in December 1870, navigated a unique path from slave to citizen to Representative. An ardent defender of Black civil and political rights, Rainey directly challenged the calcified traditions of American politics and society.
History of the House Page Program
For more than two centuries, young people served as Pages in the U.S. House of Representatives and enjoyed an unparalleled opportunity to observe and participate in the legislative process in “the People’s House.” The expectations and experiences of House Pages, regardless of when they served, have been linked by certain commonalities—witnessing history, interacting with Representatives, and taking away lifelong inspiration to participate in civic life.
Series of Publications on Women and Minorities in Congress
Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in Congress
Since 1900, when Delegate Robert M. Wilcox of Hawaii became the first Asian Pacific American (APA) to serve in Congress, 67 APAs have served as U.S. Representatives, Delegates, Resident Commissioners, or Senators.
Black Americans in Congress
Since 1870, when Senator Hiram Revels of Mississippi and Joseph Rainey of South Carolina became the first African Americans to serve in Congress, 175 African Americans have served as U.S. Representatives, Senators, or Delegates.
Hispanic Americans in Congress
Since 1822, when Delegate Joseph Marion Hernández of Florida became the first Hispanic American to serve in Congress, 137 Hispanic Americans have served as U.S. Representatives, Delegates, Resident Commissioners, or Senators.
Women in Congress
Since 1917, when Representative Jeannette Rankin of Montana became the first woman to serve in Congress, 400 women have served as U.S. Representatives, Senators, or Delegates.
Brochures
The House Chamber
Vital democratic processes and a rich heritage resound in the House Chamber. Legislative activities in the U.S. House of Representatives begin and end in this room. This brochure highlights many parts of the House Chamber, including the Speaker’s Lobby and the Chamber’s surrounding corridors.
How the House Works
How the House Works, an exhibition about the diverse work of the House of Representatives, is presented by the Clerk of the House’s Office of Art and Archives. This brochure includes tips for getting more out of your exhibition tour.
Joseph Rainey: 150th Anniversary
The Joseph Rainey: 150th Anniversary exhibition commemorates the South Carolina Member’s swearing-in on December 12, 1870, when he became the first African American to serve in the House of Representatives. View the exhibition timeline.
The Lindy Claiborne Boggs Congressional Women’s Reading Room: A Witness to History
This historic space northeast of National Statuary Hall once served as an office for Speakers, Clerks, and Committees of the United States House of Representatives. A witness to more than two centuries of history, the Lindy Claiborne Boggs Congressional Women’s Reading Room has hosted numerous celebrated figures. Since 1962, the suite has belonged to the Congresswomen of the House.
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
Since 1859, the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress has been the primary source for biographical information on Members of the United States Congress and Continental Congresses.