Annals of Congress, 1789-1824
Location: Microfilm J 11 R396
Scope
“The Annals of Congress, formally 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. The Annals were not published contemporaneously, but were compiled between 1834 and 1856, using the best records available, primarily newspaper accounts. Speeches are paraphrased rather than presented verbatim, but the record of debate is nonetheless fuller than that available from the House and Senate Journals.
The Annals were immediately succeeded by the Register of Debates, and subsequently by the Congressional Globe and Congressional Record.” (Library of Congress American Memory)
How to search the collection
1. Use the Indexes to Annals of the Congress of the United States (Microforms Reference KF 35 Index) to find records in the Annals of Congress. Each Congress has an index. Write down the Congress and the page for the information that you want.
2. Get the Annals of Congress microfilm ( Microfilm J 11 R396). Each reel has a label which says which Congress is on it.
3. Reel through the microfilm for the Congress you need, paying careful attention to when one Congress on the reel ends and another begins. When you find the Congress you need, go by the page numbers to find the information that you want.
The full text of the Annals of Congress is fully searchable at the Library of Congress American Memory website. This is probably the easiest way to use the Annals of Congress.
Guides
Library of Congress American Memory website
Indexes to Annals of the Congress of the United States. Washington,D.C.: United States Historical Documents Institute, 1970.
(Microforms Reference KF 35 Index).
For more information about this subject in our Library Catalog, check out these
Subject Categories:
United States -- Politics and government -- 1789-1815.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1809-1817.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1817-1825.
Time Period: 18th Century 19th Century
Subject keywords: Congressional Papers, U. S. Politics