U.S. Government Information

Guide - The U.S. Congressional Serial Set at Northwestern University Library

Contents

The U.S. Congressional Serial Set (aka, the Serial Set) is the longest-running series in the United States and covers the time period of 1789 to date. The set provides valuable information about various facets of the nation's history, development, policy, and society.

It is difficult to comprehensively or succinctly describe Serial Set contents since the topics covered are diverse and range from apples to hats to the World Wars. In addition, the publishing patterns of inclusion have been inconsistent over the years. There are many surprises in the Serial Set, and it includes materials not found elsewhere. The bulk of materials in the Serial Set originates with the Congress, but one can also find agency publications in the Serial Set as well as select publications of quasi or non-governmental organizations. Congressional materials not in the Serial Set include the Congressional Record and hearings.

Related Collection: The American State Papers - This collection, printed retrospectively under a contract between Congress and a private publisher, is considered part of the overall Serial Set and includes Congressional publications of the 1st - 14th Congresses (1789-1816). It is a separate 38-volume set with publication categories such as Foreign Relations, Indian Affairs, Finance, Public Lands, and Miscellaneous Documents.

Categories of Serial Set Materials:

House and Senate Reports. Issued by Committees, reports describe the purpose of a private or public bill or resolution, and why the measure should be approved.

House and Senate Documents. The kinds of materials included as documents are diverse. The volumes containing documents might include messages from the President, memorial speeches, agency annual reports, agency studies, Census reports, Congressional manuals, or treatments of the Constitution.

Senate Treaty Documents (previous name: Senate executive documents). Part of the Serial Set since 1979, these are messages to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from the President. These also contain the treaty's text.

Senate Executive Reports. Part of the Serial Set since 1979. Those of the Foreign Relations Committee recommend approval of treaties. Reports of other committees recommend nomination confirmations.

Example Titles in the Serial Set:

Access Tools and Indexes

CIS U.S. Serial Set Index - Covers 1789-1969. Divided into parts that cover a limited number of years or certain Congresses. Includes indexing of the American State Papers. Look up topics by subject words and key terms. It is also possible to find materials by report or document number.

-Index and Carto-Bibliography of Maps, 1789-1969. Special series of parts to this index. Lists maps of various types, sizes, and subject matter in the Serial Set.

Lexis-Nexis Congressional, Historical Indexes, Congressional Indexes, 1789-1969. This resource which is available to persons affiliated with Northwestern University includes the U.S. Serial Set Index as well as several other CIS indexes to government information. However, the CIS Index and Carto-Bibliography of Maps is not included.

Also part of L-N Congressional is Historical Full-Text - Full text of U.S. Congressional Serial Set and American State Papers. The database is to be completed by 2005.

NUCat/Voyager - The Library's catalog lists most Serial Set publications since mid-1976. Not all records will indicate that an item is part of the Serial Set. Most records provide precise SuDocs numbers rather than Serial Set numbers.

Government Publications and Maps Department Staff - One of the greatest resources in finding out whether or not a particular document is in the Serial Set or if there is a Serial Set item on a particular subject is the department's staff. Please ask for assistance with the Serial Set or other departmental resources.

Holdings

The Department holds these materials in various formats. Format depends on the age of the item, the original distribution format of the item, as well the condition of the material. The Library has most of the Serial Set, but due to loss, non-receipt or deterioration, some volumes are not held by the library.

American State Papers - Supplemental Reference. 328.73 U581a 1998 The department has complete holdings of this resource covering the 1st -14th Congresses (1789-1816). Also available on microfiche from CIS.

Bound Serial Set Volumes - Gov Pubs Stacks. Y 1.1/2: Serial Set Volume Number. The department has a substantial number of volumes of the Serial Set in paper format with the Serial Set numbers 4 through 13665 from the years 1817-1986. Bound volume holdings are less complete for earlier years than for later ones.

Serial Set on Microfiche from CIS - Microfiche Cabinets. Unclassed. The department has the fiche covering the 15th- 63rd Congresses (1817-1915).

Serial Set materials on microfiche since 1987. Microfiche Cabinets. Classed with either "Y" SuDocs numbers or session/documents numbers. These publications are listed in NUCat.

B. Clausen. Revised August 2004.