Federal Government Archives and Collections
Center for Legislative Studies
Established in 1997, the Center for Legislative Studies is housed within the Department of Political Science at Bridgewater State College. It operates within the context of a dynamic educational environment that encourages research, teaching, and community service. Center on Congress The central mission of The Center on Congress is to help improve the public's understanding of Congress and to improve civic engagement, especially among our young people, as a way to strengthen our basic institutions of government. The Center is non-partisan and its goal is purely educational undefined to explain the work and role of Congress. Information on Congress is presented in a variety of ways, including newspaper op-eds, radio commentaries, website articles and brochures, teaching materials, conferences, books, television spots, and videos and interactive learning programs for students. Areas covered by the Center include public perceptions of Congress, the role of Congress in our large, diverse country, the main public criticisms of Congress, and the impact of Congress on people's everyday lives. The Center encourages a balanced, realistic view of Congress: one that see its flaws but still recognizes its central role in our system of government; one that leads to a desire to make things better rather than to cynicism. At the core of the Center's work is the belief that our nation's great experiment of representative democracy has served us well for more than two hundred years, but it fundamentally rests on an informed electorate that understands our system of government and participates in our civic life. Hawaii Congressional Papers Collections The goal of the Hawaii Congressional Papers Collection is to collect, preserve and make available for the citizens of Hawaii and the worldwide scholarly community the papers of Hawaii delegates to the U.S. Congress from the time of statehood in 1959 to the present. John Joseph Moakley Archive and Institute on Public Policy and Political History The John Joseph Moakley Archive and Institute is dedicated to the preservation, study, interpretation and celebration of the late congressman's legacy of service and political and public policy leadership. The Modern Political Papers Collection at Indiana University The Indiana University Modern Political Papers Collection consists of the congressional papers of senators and members of the House of Representatives from Indiana serving from post-World War II to the present. Its primary focus is on senatorial collections and the papers of representatives from south central Indiana. Major collections are the senatorial papers of Birch Bayh and the Lee Hamilton Congressional Papers. Collection development is supplemented by exhibitions, publications, and an oral history program with former staff members. South Carolina Political Collections South Carolina Political Collections is a division of the University of South Carolina Libraries. Established in 1991, it collects, preserves, and encourages research in private papers documenting South Carolinians and their government at the national and state levels in the post-World War II era. An active collecting program targets the records of members of South Carolina's congressional delegation, leaders in the General Assembly, the state's political parties, and other persons and organizations playing substantive roles in, or affecting, government. Holdings include manuscripts, audio-visual records, and electronic media. On ongoing oral history program supplements the collected documentary record. Interview subjects include legislators, staff, and family members. Richard B. Russell Library for Political Research and Studies Serving as a center for research and study, Russell Library at the University of Georgia Libraries develops and presents public programming and educational materials that facilitate and encourage research, raise public awareness of the Library and its collections and services, and provide learning opportunities for the communities it serves.The breadth and depth of Russell Library’s collections provide an interconnected framework of perspectives and experiences for understanding the increasingly diverse people, events, and ideas shaping modern Georgia’s political landscape. A searchable database of online finding aids to all open collections is on the Russell Library web site. The Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies A private, nonpartisan and nonprofit educational organization administered by the Congressional Education Foundation with facilities on the campus of Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The mission of the Center is to help foster a better understanding of the United States Congress, the Constitution and representative democracy both historically and in a contemporary setting. The Center has an archival section that contains the papers of U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd and other political collections. Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars This site contains reports and related documents on seminars held at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for scholars on aspects of the policy process in Congress. Each seminar brings together current or former members or staff from the Congress from each party, a congressional scholar who prepares a paper on the subject, and a journalist who covers The Hill. In addition, the Congress Project director prepares an introductory essay to put the seminar in historic context. Center for Legislative Archives, National Archives and Records Administration Repository for the official records of the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Senate, legislative branch agencies and commissions. Robert J. Lagosmarino Library, California State University Channel Islands The Archives will acquire primary or secondary source special collection materials pertaining to the history of Ventura County or the State of California. This includes personalities, events, and topics of interest. The Robert J. Lagomarsino Collection documents Mr. Lagomarsino’s service as a California State Senator (1961-1974) under governors Brown and Reagan and as a United States Representative (1974-1992) under presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Bush, and Reagan. The collection, approximately 400 linear feet, also details the Lagomarsino family history, documenting Ventura County’s early beginnings in the State. The collection includes artifacts, documents, memorabilia, oral histories, original furniture, photographs, and special collection items. Thomas J. Dodd Research Center (University of Connecticut) The Dodd Research Center collects material with statewide significance; papers of members of Congressional delegation; limited local or civic organizations records only as they complement other collecting areas. Finding aids to all open collections are available in the Collections section of the Dodd Research Center web site. Wendell H. Ford Public Policy Research Center Wendell H. Ford Public Policy Research Center supports research and programming dealing with issues relating to public policy, politics, and Congress. The Center provides University of Kentucky faculty, involved in teaching and research in these areas, the opportunity to work closely with the Ford Center on specific or general topics. The Ford Center develops public and educational programming and exhibits on public policy, politics, and Congress. These exhibits are made available on the University of Kentucky campus as well as other institutions and agencies throughout Kentucky. Some exhibits will become permanent exhibits on the Ford Center website. John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Leadership The Stennis Center for Public Service is a federal, legislative branch agency created by Congress in 1988 to promote and strengthen public service leadership in America. The Stennis Center is headquartered in Starkville, Mississippi, adjacent to Mississippi State University and has an office on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Programs of the Stennis Center are funded through an endowment plus private contributions from foundations and corporations. Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library The collecting policy of the Library is to document broadly the history of Delaware and Delawareans, including primary sources related to the history of politics and government. The Library collects papers of current and former members of Congress; Delaware individuals who represent leadership in diplomatic or political arenas, domestic or foreign, at the local, state, and national levels; and papers of institutions, organizations, or groups concerned with public policy or civic affairs. Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics (University of Kansas) Collections primarily generated in the House and Senate offices of Sen. Bob Dole, 1960-1996. Also includes a significant collection of art, artifacts, audio/visual materials and oral histories. Of interest may be materials relating to Sen. Dole’s two presidential runs and his leadership roles in the Senate and the Republican National Committee. Inventories for collections can be found on the web site as they become available. Researchers are encouraged to contact the archivist with any questions. The John Brademas Center for the Study of Congress (New York University) The New York University Archives serves as the final repository for the historical records of NYU. Its primary purpose is to document the history of the University and to provide source material for administrators, faculty, students, alumni, and other members of the University community, as well as scholars, authors, and other interested persons who seek to evaluate the impact of the University's activities on the history of American social, cultural, and intellectual development. The John Brademas Congressional Papers document the career of John Brademas as a Representative from Indiana's Third District from 1959 to 1981 and serves as the cornerstone for the John Brademas Center for the Study of Congress. University of Rhode Island Library The University of Rhode Island Library preserves many of the records of Rhode Island's political leaders. Special Collections currently holds the papers of six governors, three United States Representatives, one Rhode Island Representative, and two United States Senators. These records occupy approximately four thousand linear feet. Many of the collections are being processed, as staff and time permit, and are presently unavailable for research; unprocessed collections are available by special permission only. P.K. Younge Library (University of Florida) Political papers have been at the center of the Library of Florida History since its inception in 1945. Among the earliest collections are the papers of David Levy Yulee, an antebellum Florida Senator. The most recent acquisition is the Bob Graham Senate Collection. The library also works closely with the Samuel Proctor Oral History Center and transcripts can be found in the University of Florida Digital Collections H.M. Briggs Library Archives (South Dakota State University) The South Dakota State University Archives acquired the papers of former Congressman and Senator Thomas A. Daschle in 2005. Senator Daschle graduated from SDSU in 1969 with a degree in political science. This collection documents his distinguished twenty-six year public career in the U.S. House and Senate. Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy (University of Tennessee) The Howard Baker Center focuses on three main areas of interest. First, the center maintains and promotes research in the papers of Howard Baker and other political collections at the University of Tennessee. These materials provide a wealth of information for scholars and students. The Center will work to assist in the solicitation of new collections. Second, the Center hosts public programs on issues of local, regional, national, and international significance. These programs are on a wide array of topics, with special interest given to the role of the media. Thirdly, the Center actively engages in innovative educational initiatives to help students of all ages better understand the American political system. These initiatives promote understanding of the responsibilities and rewards of public service, and the significance of each citizen's active involvement in government. Office of the Historian, U.S. House of Representatives The Office of the Historian provides information and interpretation on important precedents and events for the use of Members of Congress and their staffs, the media, students, educators, scholars, and the general public. The Office conducts oral history interviews of current and former members of Congress and selected staff, as well as advises members on the disposition of their archives and papers. It also works with the Office of Photography to archive the hundreds of thousands of photographs taken in the House. Special Collections, University of Vermont Special Collections advances the mission of the Libraries and the University of Vermont by developing, preserving, and providing access to rare books and permanently valuable records and collections that document Vermont and the University. Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate The Institute will be dedicated to educating the general public, students, teachers, new Senators, and Senate staff about the role and importance of the Senate. In keeping with Senator Kennedy's lifetime of public service, a major goal of the Institute will be to improve civic education in the nation and educate and inspire a new generation of active citizens and legislators. In all of its programs, the Institute will draw heavily on Senator Kennedy’s extensive papers and oral history materials covering his more than four decades in the Senate. Senator Mitch McConnell and Representative Elaine Chao, University of Louisville The McConnell Center was established in 1991 by Kentucky's senior U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell and the University of Louisville. McConnell, a 1964 graduate of the university, founded the Center based on his belief that "Kentucky's future depends on inspiring talented, motivated leaders." The McConnell Center is dedicated to providing a non-partisan, well rounded education that encourages top undergraduates to become valued citizens and future leaders of the Commonwealth and the nation. The Center also facilitates public discourse on the major challenges of our time while encouraging an understanding of our shared past. Congressional Collections at Archival Institutions This site indexes the personal papers of members of Congress, which are dispersed at repositories around the country. The index is arranged by the name of the holding institution or organization, or by members' personal names. Salaries of Members of Congress: Recent Actions and Historical Tables A CRS report that describes congressional pay procedure and recent adjustments, as well as historical information on the rate of pay for Members of Congress since 1789. Government Resources If you don't know where to find what you are looking for, start here. It's an extensive list of sites relating to Congress. SAA CPR Congressional Resources A collection of Congressional resources from the Society of American Archivists' Congressional Papers Roundtable. Legislative Source Book Law Librarians' Society of Washington D.C. maintains this online version of their source book. Schedule of Volumes to the U.S. Serial Set This D.C. Law Librarians' Society web site includes the schedule of volumes, 1970 to current, and "An Overview of the U.S. Congressional Serial Set" by Rick McKenney. U.S. Congressional Serial Set Finding List Congressional Serial Set Finding List by Wooster College. You can search by agency, SuDoc class, or volume. U.S. Legislative Process - Research Guide This guide is designed to help locate government publications from the Legislative branch. It includes bills, hearings, reports, public laws, and Congressional proceedings. Congressional Pictorial Directory Photographs of all members of the 105th Congress through the 113th Congress in PDF format; requires the Adobe Acrobat Reader to view. Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress, 1774-present A joint House-Senate project, this site is searchable by name, position, and state. Biographies includes portraits and bibliography links. Roll Call Online Provides information on Congress and current national politics. Especially strong in specific current processes and larger national policy issues. The Hill From the Capitol Hill Publishing Company, The Hill: the Capitol Newspaper on the Web provides daily features, columns, opinions, and resources, etc. Ben's Guide to Government for Kids A K-12 site for kids to learn about and get involved with their state and federal governments. A Century of Lawmaking for a New Nation: U.S. Congressional Documents and Debates 1774-1873 A project in the Library of Congress' American Memory Collections, this site covers the Continental Congress to the 16th Congress. The Congress Project From the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Scholars, the Congress Project is designed to initiate dialogue between scholars who study Congress and policy makers who have experience with how Congress works. C-SPAN Congressional Glossary Complete alphabetical list of congressional terms. |
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