United States House of Representatives: History, Art, & Archives
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History, Art & Archives of the U.S. House of Representatives

Close-Up and Personal

by Archives on August 31, 2015

Representative William Atkeson
Congressional photographic portraits serve an important function—recording an image of a Member for history. They can also surprise the viewer with their beauty. Harris & Ewing, a Washington, D.C., photography studio, produced luminous congressional photographs that are worth a closer look.

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Categories: Photography, Art & Artifacts, People

“It Isn’t a School, and I’m Not a Schoolmaster”

by History on August 25, 2015

Do you remember having jitters on the first day at a new school? It could be a strange environment with unfamiliar classrooms, new teachers, and fidgety students who wanted to be somewhere else. New Members of Congress have had similar feelings.

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Categories: Opening Day, House Practice & Traditions

Edition for Educators—In Pursuit of House Trivia

by History on August 18, 2015

This month’s Edition for Educators highlights trivia spanning the history of the House of Representatives, spotlighting a few unique firsts, records, and watershed moments. Who was the first known Representative to be elected by a write-in vote? What is on Charles Schulz’s Congressional Gold Medal? And how long would “Uncle Joe” cook a ham hock for his bean soup? All of this trivia and more can be found on the History, Art & Archives website.

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Categories: Education, Firsts & Milestones

The Saga of “Sausage” Sawyer

by History on August 12, 2015

In politics as in life, everyone discovers that they have to choose their battles, deciding when to fight and when to walk away. The lucky ones get to learn this lesson early and in private. Then there are others, like Ohio Representative William Sawyer.

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Categories: People, House Chamber

The Artist Formerly Known as Fox

by Art on August 6, 2015

At 10 different portrait unveilings on Capitol Hill, a man named Charles J. Fox was praised as the artist who captured the sitter’s likeness. In fact, Fox was not an artist. His name wasn't even Charles. The real creator was someone else entirely.

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Categories: Art & Artifacts

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Office of the Historian: history@mail.house.gov
Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov