United States House of Representatives: History, Art, & Archives
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House Collection Objects

La Salle Stenotype Machine

/tiles/non-collection/o/oh_stenomachine_machine.xml Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives
About this object
House official reporters create verbatim transcripts of committee meetings and House Floor proceedings for official House records. To keep up with the fast pace of conversation, they use shorthand—an abbreviated writing method—to record every word. In the 20th century, House official reporters used machines like this 1950s La Salle Stenotype model. Joe Strickland, a former House official reporter, demonstrates the stenotype machine technique using this machine and compares it to his modern, computerized model.

Featured Video

1950s Stenotype Machine

Joe Strickland explains how to use a stenotype machine using the House Collection's 1950s model.
Joe Strickland, Chief Reporter, Office of Official Reporters
Interview recorded November 14, 2018 – Deed of Gift
Transcript (PDF)

Video

1950s Stenotype Machine

Joe Strickland explains how to use a stenotype machine using the House Collection's 1950s model.
Joe Strickland, Chief Reporter, Office of Official Reporters
Interview recorded November 14, 2018 – Deed of Gift
Transcript (PDF)

Keys on a Stenotype Machine: Part One

Joe Strickland explains the stenotype keys and different grouping of letters that translate into specific sounds.
Joe Strickland, Chief Reporter, Office of Official Reporters
Interview recorded November 14, 2018 – Deed of Gift
Transcript (PDF)

Keys on a Stenotype Machine: Part Two

Joe Strickland highlights a special key used to distinguish one homonym from another and to shorten repeated phrases.
Joe Strickland, Chief Reporter, Office of Official Reporters
Interview recorded November 14, 2018 – Deed of Gift
Transcript (PDF)

Machine Maintenance

Joe Strickland remembers the maintenance required for older stenotype machines.
Joe Strickland, Chief Reporter, Office of Official Reporters
Interview recorded November 14, 2018 – Deed of Gift
Transcript (PDF)

Old and New

Joe Strickland compares the 1950s stenotype machine to his newer model.
Joe Strickland, Chief Reporter, Office of Official Reporters
Interview recorded November 14, 2018 – Deed of Gift
Transcript (PDF)

Stenography and Shorthand

Joe Strickland defines shorthand and machine stenography.
Joe Strickland, Chief Reporter, Office of Official Reporters
Interview recorded November 14, 2018 – Deed of Gift
Transcript (PDF)

Thinking in Sounds

Joe Strickland remembers learning machine stenography theory and building speed in court reporting school.
Joe Strickland, Chief Reporter, Office of Official Reporters
Interview recorded November 14, 2018 – Deed of Gift
Transcript (PDF)

Images & Artifacts

La Salle Stenotype Machine
<i>La Salle Stenotype Machine</i>/tiles/non-collection/o/oh_stenomachine_machine.xml
This circa 1950 stenotype machine printed ink on paper like a typewriter. A transcriber would then translate the shorthand into English and use it in the Congressional Record.
Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives
About this object
Diagram of Stenography Machine Keys
<i>Diagram of Stenography Machine Keys</i>/tiles/non-collection/o/oh_stenomachine_keys.xml
As Joe Strickland explains in his oral history, the machine stenography method is based on capturing sounds of words rather than letters. Stenographers use groupings of these keys to make combinations of sounds. Watch the "Keys on a Stenotype Machine" videos above for more information.
Provided by the Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives
House Committee Investigates Campaign Expenditures, 1944
<i>House Committee Investigates Campaign Expenditures, 1944</i>/tiles/non-collection/o/oh_stenomachine_committee.xml
A stenographer, using a stenography machine, sat in a group of Representatives and witnesses during a hearing of the Special Committee to Investigate Campaign Expenditures.
Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives
About this object
A Stormy Sitting
<i>A Stormy Sitting</i>/tiles/non-collection/o/oh_stenomachine_stormy.xml
Before stenography machines, stenographers wrote shorthand by hand. Harper's Weekly published this rendition of a stenographer's trying circumstances on the House Floor during debate in 1888. The newspaper states a stenographer "walks between a double row of shaking fists, and his trained ear catches all that is possible of the screaming."
Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives
About this object
"Taking Notes" in the House of Representatives
<i>"Taking Notes" in the House of Representatives</i>/tiles/non-collection/o/oh_stenomachine_takingnotes.xml
This 1900 Frank Leslie's Illustrated Weekly image shows stenographers getting close to speakers on the House Floor in order to record every word in their notepads.
Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives
About this object
<i>La Salle Stenotype Machine</i>;
<i>Diagram of Stenography Machine Keys</i>;
<i>House Committee Investigates Campaign Expenditures, 1944</i>;
<i>A Stormy Sitting</i>;
<i>"Taking Notes" in the House of Representatives</i>;
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Office of the Historian: history@mail.house.gov
Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov