111th Congress, 2nd Session
Early efforts to preserve the records of the House of Representatives
February 21, 1910
On this date in the 61st Congress (1909–1911), the House allocated $2,500 “for the better preservation of early files of the House” by means of H. Res. 403. The appropriation was accompanied by House Report No. 677, written by Massachusetts Congressman Joseph Francis O’Connell of the Committee on Accounts, describing the rapidly deteriorating condition of House records still kept in the Capitol’s attic. The space contained hundreds of bundles of the earliest records, which were piled to the ceiling in a narrow passageway. The papers were “neglected and decaying.” The report called for additional funding to classify and rejacket these materials, which included original bills and amendments, correspondence, memorials of state and territorial legislatures, petitions, and reports. The records covered “a variety of subjects and in themselves [furnish] a documentary history of some of the most important events in our history.” The report described the circumstances of a letter from Martha Washington to Congress consenting to the burial of President George Washington in the Capitol crypt. The letter had been cut from one of the bound volumes of original documents, but was later recovered. The committee recommended the deposit of all original papers and letters of historical value with the Librarian of Congress. After this initial transfer, the Librarian continued to accept periodic deposits from the House, but was eager for an alternative storage space. More than 40 years later, House records were transferred from the Library of Congress to the National Archives building and today are cared for by the Clerk of the House’s official archival staff.
Related Highlight Subjects
Cite this Highlight
Office of History and Preservation, Office of the Clerk, http://clerk.house.gov/art_history/highlights.html?action=view&intID=444, (December 15, 2010).For Additional Information
Office of History and Preservation(202) 226-1300
history@mail.house.gov
Subscribe to E-mail Updates
Sign up for monthly e-mail updates on House art and history.
Early efforts to preseve the records of the House of Representatives unearthed an original letter from Former First Lady Martha Washington to the Congress.
House Resolution 403, 61st Congress
Teaching Tip
House Jargon
Provide students with a list of terms commonly associated with the House of Representatives, such as: Speaker; Clerk; mace; rostrum; chamber; Joint Session or Joint Meeting; Capitol; gavel; Statuary Hall. Ask students to locate a highlight date for each of these terms and to create an interactive timeline that includes each of the dates.
