Skip to Content

House History

Doorkeepers of the House

(1789 to 1995)

A House of Representatives officer from 1789 to 1995, the Doorkeeper was elected by a resolution at the opening of each Congress. The Office of the Doorkeeper was based on precedent from the Continental Congresses. Without debate, the First Federal Congress (1789-1791) created the Doorkeeper’s position by resolution on April 2, 1789. The Doorkeeper controlled access to the House Chamber and eventually oversaw the press in the gallery. A total of 34 individuals served in the Doorkeeper position until it was terminated in the 104th Congress (1995-1997) and many of its duties were transferred to the Sergeant at Arms, the Clerk of the House, and the newly created Chief Administrative Officer.

Two Doorkeepers also served as U.S. Representatives (indicated by asterisks) either prior to or after their service as a House officer. By clicking on their names, viewers will be linked to their individual biographies in the online Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.


Congress (Years)
Doorkeepers, State or Territory1
Date Elected
1st (1789-91) Gifford Dalley2 April 4, 1789
2nd (1791-93) Gifford Dalley Oct. 24, 1791
3rd (1793-95) Gifford Dalley Dec. 2, 1793
4th (1795-97) Thomas Claxton Dec. 7, 1795
5th (1797-99) Thomas Claxton May 15, 1797
6th (1799-1801) Thomas Claxton Dec. 2, 1799
7th (1801-03) Thomas Claxton Dec. 7, 1801
8th (1803-05) Thomas Claxton Oct. 17, 1803
9th (1805-07) Thomas Claxton Dec. 2, 1805
10th (1807-09) Thomas Claxton Oct. 27, 1807
11th (1809-11) Thomas Claxton May 22, 1809
12th (1811-13) Thomas Claxton Nov. 4, 1811
13th (1813-15) Thomas Claxton May 24, 1813
14th (1815-17) Thomas Claxton Dec. 4, 1815
15th (1817-19) Thomas Claxton Dec. 1, 1817
16th (1819-21) Thomas Claxton Dec. 6, 1819
17th (1821-23) Benjamin Birch, MD Dec. 4, 1821
18th (1823-25) Benjamin Birch, MD Dec. 1, 1823
19th (1825-27) Benjamin Birch, MD Dec. 5, 1825
20th (1827-29) Benjamin Birch, MD Dec. 3, 1827
21st (1829-31) Benjamin Birch, MD Dec. 7, 1829
22nd (1831-33) Overton Carr, MD Dec. 7, 1831
23rd (1833-35) Overton Carr, MD Dec. 3, 1833
24th (1835-37) Overton Carr, MD Dec. 15, 1835
25th (1837-39) Overton Carr, MD Sept. 4, 1837
26th (1839-41) Joseph Follansbee, MA Dec. 23, 1839
27th (1841-43) Joseph Follansbee, MA June 9, 1841
28th (1843-45) Jesse E. Dow, CT Dec. 7, 1843
29th (1845-47) Cornelius S. Whitney, DC Dec. 3, 1845
30th (1847-49) Robert E. Horner, NJ Dec. 8, 1847
31st (1849-51) Robert E. Horner, NJ N/A3
32nd (1851-53) Zadock W. McKnew, MD Dec. 1, 1851
33rd (1853-55) Zadock W. McKnew, MD Dec. 5, 1853
34th (1855-57) Nathan Darling, NY Feb. 5, 1856
35th (1857-59) Robert B. Hackney, VA Dec. 7, 1857
36th (1859-61) George Marston, NH Feb. 6, 1860
37th (1861-63) Ira Goodnow, NY July 5, 1861
38th (1863-65) Ira Goodnow, NY Dec. 8, 1863
39th (1865-67) Ira Goodnow, NY Dec. 4, 1865
40th (1867-69) Charles E. Lippincott, IL March 5, 1867
41st (1869-71) Otis S. Buxton, NY March 5, 1869
42nd (1871-73) Otis S. Buxton, NY March 4, 1871
43rd (1873-75) Otis S. Buxton, NY Dec. 1, 1873
44th (1875-77) Lafayette H. Fitzhugh, TX
John H. Patterson, NJ
Dec. 6, 1875
May 26, 18764
45th (1877-79) John W. Polk, MO Oct. 17, 1877
46th (1879-81) Charles W. Field, GA March 18, 1879
47th (1881-83) Walter P. Brownlow, TN* Dec. 5, 1881
48th (1883-85) James G. Wintersmith, TX Dec. 4, 1883
49th (1885-87) Samuel Donelson, TN Dec. 7, 1885
50th (1887-89) Alvin B. Hurt, MS Dec. 5, 1887
51st (1889-91) Charles E. Adams, MD Dec. 2, 1889
52nd (1891-93) Charles H. Turner, NY* Dec. 8, 1891
53rd (1893-95) Alvin B. Hurt, TN5 Aug. 7, 1893
54th (1895-97) William J. Glenn, NY Dec. 2, 1895
55th (1897-99) William J. Glenn, NY March 15, 1897
56th (1899-1901) William J. Glenn, NY Dec. 4, 1899
57th (1901-03) William J. Glenn, NY Dec. 2, 1901
58th (1903-05) Frank B. Lyon, NY Nov. 9, 1903
59th (1905-07) Frank B. Lyon, NY Dec. 4, 1905
60th (1907-09) Frank B. Lyon, NY Dec. 2, 1907
61st (1909-11) Frank B. Lyon, NY March 15, 1909
62nd (1911-13) Joseph J. Sinnott, VA Apr. 4, 1911
63rd (1913-15) Joseph J. Sinnott, VA Apr. 7, 1913
64th (1915-17) Joseph J. Sinnott, VA Dec. 6, 1915
65th (1917-19) Joseph J. Sinnott, VA Apr. 2, 1917
66th (1919-21) Bert W. Kennedy, MI May 19, 1919
67th (1921-23) Bert W. Kennedy, MI Apr. 11, 1921
68th (1923-25) Bert W. Kennedy, MI Dec. 5, 1923
69th (1925-27) Bert W. Kennedy, MI Dec. 7, 1925
70th (1927-29) Bert W. Kennedy, MI Dec. 5, 1927
71st (1929-31) Bert W. Kennedy, MI Apr. 15, 1929
72nd (1931-33) Joseph J. Sinnott, VA Dec. 7, 1931
73rd (1933-35) Joseph J. Sinnott, VA March 9, 1933
74th (1935-37) Joseph J. Sinnott, VA Jan. 3, 1935
75th (1937-39) Joseph J. Sinnott, VA Jan. 5, 1937
76th (1939-41) Joseph J. Sinnott, VA Jan. 3, 1939
77th (1941-43) Joseph J. Sinnott, VA Jan. 3, 1941
78th (1943-45) Joseph J. Sinnott, VA 6
Ralph R. Roberts, IN
Jan. 6, 1943
Feb. 5, 19437
79th (1945-47) Ralph R. Roberts, IN Jan. 3, 1945
80th (1947-49) M.L. Meletio, MO Jan. 3, 1947
81st (1949-51) William M. Miller, MS Jan. 3, 1949
82nd (1951-53) William M. Miller, MS Jan. 3, 1951
83rd (1953-55) Tom J. Kennamer, MO Jan. 3, 1953
84th (1955-57) William M. Miller, MS Jan. 5, 1955
85th (1957-59) William M. Miller, MS Jan. 3, 1957
86th (1959-61) William M. Miller, MS Jan. 7, 1959
87th (1961-63) William M. Miller, MS Jan. 3, 1961
88th (1963-65) William M. Miller, MS Jan. 9, 1963
89th (1965-67) William M. Miller, MS Jan. 4, 1965
90th (1967-69) William M. Miller, MS Jan. 10, 1967
91st (1969-71) William M. Miller, MS Jan. 3, 1969
92nd (1971-73) William M. Miller, MS Jan. 21, 1971
93rd (1973-75) William M. Miller, MS8
James T. Molloy, NY
Jan. 3, 1973
Dec. 31, 19749
94th (1975-77) James T. Molloy, NY Jan. 14, 1975
95th (1977-79) James T. Molloy, NY Jan. 4, 1977
96th (1979-81) James T. Molloy, NY Jan. 15, 1979
97th (1981-83) James T. Molloy, NY Jan. 5, 1981
98th (1983-85) James T. Molloy, NY Jan. 3, 1983
99th (1985-87) James T. Molloy, NY Jan. 3, 1985
100th (1987-89) James T. Molloy, NY Jan. 6, 1987
101st (1989-91) James T. Molloy, NY Jan. 3, 1989
102nd (1991-93) James T. Molloy, NY Jan. 3, 1991
103rd (1993-95) James T. Molloy, NY Jan. 5, 1993

Sources: House Journal, various editions; Congressional Record, various editions; Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (2005); Congressional Directory, various editions.

1. A Doorkeeper’s state or territory is listed when known.
2. Gifford Dalley’s last name has been spelled “Dalley,” “Dally,” and “Dudley” in various editions of the Register of Debates.
3. Election of Doorkeeper was postponed to March 1, 1851, when it was postponed indefinitely. Horner retained the duties of Doorkeeper from the 30th Congress until his removal on May 27, 1850. House Journal, 31st Cong., 1st sess., (May 27, 1850): 966; House Journal, 31st Cong., 2nd sess., (March 3, 1851): 406.
4. Elected on May 26, 1876, to fill the unexpired term of L.H. Fitzhugh, who was removed from office on May 22, 1876. See, House Journal, 44th Cong., 1st sess., (May 22, 1876): 998; and House Journal, 44th Cong., 1st sess., (May 26, 1876): Addenda.
5. Hurt is listed in the House Journal as residing in the state of Mississippi in the 50th Congress and in the state of Tennessee in the 53rd Congress.
6. Died on January 27, 1943. See, House Journal, 78th Cong., 1st sess., (January 28, 1943): 72.
7. Elected on February 5, 1943. See, House Journal, 78th Cong., 1st sess., (February 5, 1943): 86.
8. Resigned effective December 31, 1974. See, Congressional Record, 93rd Cong., 2nd sess., (December 19, 1974): 2549.
9. Appointed “to act as and to temporarily exercise” the duties of Doorkeeper effective December 31, 1974. See, Congressional Record, 93rd Cong., 2nd sess., (December 19, 1974): 2549.


Office of the Clerk - U.S. Capitol, Room H154, Washington, DC 20515-6601 | (202) 225-7000

For general inquiries: info.clerkweb@mail.house.gov
For general technical support: techsupport.clerkweb@mail.house.gov
For HouseLive support: houselive@mail.house.gov