111th Congress, 2nd Session
Clerk of the House Matthew St. Clair Clarke
May 31, 1841
On this date Matthew St. Clair Clarke of Pennsylvania was named Clerk of the House for the 27th Congress (1841–1843). The sixth individual to serve as Clerk, Clarke held the position during the 17th to the 22nd Congresses (1822–1833) and was re-elected Clerk in 1841. A career civil servant who also served as an auditor for the Treasury of the Post Office, Clarke had the distinction of being the longest-serving Clerk of the House at the time (11 years). In modern practice, as a principal officer of the House, the Clerk’s election (along with the Sergeant at Arms, Chief Administrative Officer, and Chaplain) immediately follows the election of the Speaker. Currently, the Office of the Clerk organizes the legislative operations of the House of Representatives, maintains historic publications and information, acts as caretaker of the House art collection, administers the committee records of the House, oversees office vacancies, and supervises the House Page program.
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=164, (December 15, 2010).For Additional Information
Office of History and Preservation(202) 226-1300
history@mail.house.gov
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Harpers Weekly image of the interior of the House Chamber, 1850.
Collection of U.S. House of Representatives
Teaching Tip
Ten Questions
Have students select a highlight date which focuses on a person connected to the House (Speaker, Member, House Officer, Page, etc.). Compile 10 questions to ask this person concerning his/her career in the House. In pairs, have one student play the part of the interviewer, while the other is the interviewee. Conduct research to devise answers that would likely be made by the person being interviewed.
