Libraries HomeLaw Library Purchases Digital U.S. Serial Set
September 18, 2009
A critical resource for the study of American history, politics, and society is now available online to the UO community, thanks to the Law Library's purchase of the digital version of the U.S. Serial Set.
UO students, faculty, and staff can search the Serial Set using the database LexisNexis Congressional at http://0-web.lexis-nexis.com.janus.uoregon.edu/congcomp. Choose the Advanced Search tab and select the Serial Set boxes in the search window.
This digital collection of government publications captures key aspects of American life from the early 19th century onward, including agriculture, westward expansion, scientific exploration, politics, international relations, business, and manufacturing. Few, if any, research collections compare to the Serial Set in time span, subject variety, source authority, and diversity.
The collection captures the evolution of key aspects of American life, beginning in 1789 with the American State Papers. It includes all published House and Senate documents and reports up to the present time. The reports are usually from congressional committees dealing with proposed legislation and issues under investigation. Researchers will find the reports valuable because they explain the legislative intent of bills under consideration.
The collection also includes Senate executive documents and reports ranging from 1817 to 1978. The documents and reports cover treaty, nomination, and other matters of national concern that the President submitted to the Senate for deliberation under its powers of "advise and consent." These publications were not included in the officially printed Serial Set until 1979.
For more information on using the U.S. Serial Set for your research, contact Tom Stave, head of the library's Document Center, 346-3060, tstave@uoregon.edu.
Image source: http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2009/spring/images/current-issue-congressional-serial-set-tmb.jpg
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