U.S. House of Representatives, The Office of the Historian
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The Great Seal of the United States of America
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Office of the Historian
U.S. House of Representatives
B-56 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-226-5525
Facsimile: 202-226-2931
Email: historian@mail.house.gov
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About the Office of the Historian

Dr. Robert V. Remini

Historian of the House

Dr. Robert V. Remini Robert V. Remini is the Historian of the U.S. House of Representatives, a position he has held since May, 2005, when he was appointed by Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert.

Dr. Remini has been teaching and writing about American history for more than half a century.  He received his bachelor's degree from Fordham University in 1943 and his doctorate from Columbia University in 1951. After teaching at Fordham, he joined the faculty of the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1965, and served as chairman of the history department from 1965 to 1970.  He retired from the department in 1991, returning to the campus in 1997 as University Historian. 

He has written over twenty books on American history, including the definitive three volume biography, The Life of Andrew Jackson, which won the National Book Award upon its completion in 1984.  Among his numerous books are biographies of Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, John Quincy Adams, and Joseph Smith.

In recognition of his scholarship, Dr. Remini was commissioned in 2002 to write a narrative history of the U.S. House of Representatives, which was published in May, 2006, as The House: The History of the House of Representatives.

Dr. Fred W. Beuttler

Deputy Historian of the House

Dr. Fred W. BeuttlerFred W. Beuttler is Deputy Historian of the U.S. House of Representatives.  In May, 2005, Speaker Dennis Hastert recreated the Office of the Historian, appointing Robert Remini as Historian of the House and Fred Beuttler as Deputy Historian.  Prior to coming to Washington, Dr. Beuttler was for seven years the Associate University Historian at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC).  At UIC, Dr. Beuttler directed the university’s oral history project and researched the history of the University.  From 1993 to 1998, Dr. Beuttler was an assistant professor at Trinity Christian College near Chicago, where he taught American history and government.

Dr. Beuttler earned a B.A. from the University of Illinois, an M.A. from Trinity International University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.  His dissertation, “Organizing an American Conscience: The Conference on Science, Philosophy and Religion, 1940-1968,” focused on debates over ways to strengthen the democratic way of life.  

Recent publications include: “Failed Nerves and the Problem of Religion on the American Left, 1935-1962,” “Envisioning an Urban University: President David Henry and the Chicago Circle Campus of the University of Illinois, 1955-1975,” and “For the Welfare of Every Child: A Brief History of the Institute for Juvenile Research, 1909-2004.”  He is currently updating and revising “The History of the Committee on Ways and Means.”

Mr. Anthony A. Wallis

Research Analyst

Mr. Anthony A. WallisAnthony A. Wallis hails from Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, a small suburb outside of Milwaukee.  In 2005, he graduated with a B.A. in Political Science, U.S. History and Spanish Studies from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in Minneapolis.  He began his career in public service by interning for U.S. Senator Norm Coleman (2003-2004) in the Regional Affairs Department, working as an elections clerk for Ramsey County in Saint Paul (2003-2004), and as a tax filing clerk for the Minnesota Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer (2004).

After working as a volunteer for the 2004 election campaigns in Minnesota, he came to Washington D.C. in January 2005 and interned for U.S. Representative Jim Ramstad of Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District until May 2005.  Following the internship, Anthony was a part-time Staff Assistant for U.S. Representative F. James Sensenbrenner from the 5th Congressional District of Wisconsin until August 2005 when he accepted the position as Research Assistant for the Office of the Historian. Anthony has since received training by the Library of Congress on photographic and legislative research. In addition to pursuing his M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies at the US Naval War College, Anthony is also currently updating and writing the History of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.