Historic Publications
- Details
- Last Updated: October 06 2021
- Published: February 08 2019
GPO's Catalog of U.S. Government Publications and govinfo.gov offer free public access to a wide variety of interesting Government documents. Check out these interesting historic finds.
Fall 2021
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The initial public release of the U.S. Congressional Serial Set on govinfo includes volumes from the 69th Congress, the 82nd Congress, and several 19th century Congresses. A few highlights include Art and artists of the Capitol of the United States, a report from the Joint Committee of the Library recommending continuing the American State Papers series, and a message from President Andrew Jackson announcing the death of General Lafayette.
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GPO recently released a digitized collection of the government document indexes produced by GPO, or at the direction of Congress prior to the establishment of GPO. The collection includes the Monthly Catalog of U.S. Government Publications, Documents Catalogue, Documents Index, Numerical Lists, Ames’, Poore’s, and the 1909 Checklist. -
This summer many communities in the US saw torrential rain from Hurricane Ida and other significant storms. Climate researchers may wish to compare this summer’s rainfall reports to the rainfall intensity-frequency data made available by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in this report from the Bureau of Agricultural Engineering, issued in 1935.
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For many Americans, the autumn harvest season is the only time we think about our farmlands or visit nearby farms, but farmers must work to conserve the vitality and productivity of their soil year-round. Thomas Jefferson was a committed soil conservationist, and this 1944 U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service publication explains how Jefferson sought to restore the depleted fields at Monticello after he returned from Europe in 1794.
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Included in recently contributed content from the University of Florida are reports of the U.S. Entomological Commission, established by Congress as a department under the U.S. Geological Survey in 1877.
Summer 2021
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In collaboration with Boise State University, GPO has digitized the Department of the Interior Resource Study of the Middle Snaker, a 1968 regional publication that was not reported to GPO at the time of publication.
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The Navy’s All Hands Magazine got its start in 1922 as the Bureau of Navigation News Bulletin, before becoming the Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin in 1942. In 1945 “All Hands” appeared on the cover, and the publication has carried the name ever since. -
Prepare for a summer of safe swimming with the Water ‘n Kids coloring book sought to help interested individuals determine which plants native to their locality were marketable for medicinal purposes.
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Did the recently released Preliminary Assessment: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena peak your interest? Explore the National Security Agency’s collection of frequently requested documents on the subject of Unidentified Flying Objects
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Additional historic FDLP publications have been added to govinfo, including the Classified List of United States Government Publications Available for Selection by Depository Libraries 1935 and 1941; Informing the Nation: Federal Information Dissemination in an Electronic Age, and Fulfilling Madison’s Vision.
Spring 2021
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Digitized by GPO Partner FRASER, Woman Worker was a bimonthly magazine published by the Women’s Bureau 1938-1942.
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U.S. Patent & Trademark Office offers historical roster books dating back to 1883, which could be used to determine which years an attorney or agent was registered to practice before the U.S. Patent Office. -
Taken by Voyager 1, this NASA photo showed the Earth and the moon in the same frame for the first time.
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Published in 1930, the USDA’s American Medicinal Plants of Commercial Importance sought to help interested individuals determine which plants native to their locality were marketable for medicinal purposes.
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This 1987 USGS Water-Resources Investigation Report offered a method for estimating peak flood levels around rural streams.
Winter 2020
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The full-color photographs in the NASA technical report Earth Photographs from Gemini VI through XII are the result of Gemini program experiments that sought to illustrate how orbital photography could further a wide range of scientific research.
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Looking for a gift for the military history enthusiast in your life? The Naval History and Heritage Command has digitized The Northern Barrage and Other Mining Activities, which covers one of the most significant naval projects of WWI. -
Dip into The Great Lakes : an Environmental Atlas and Resource Book, jointly produced by the Government of Canada and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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Interested in the history of medicine? The Handbook of the Hospital Corps, United States Navy, 1939 was published shortly before the start of WWII, and would have served as a reference for hospital corpsmen of the Navy throughout the war.
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Take a trip back in time and to the other side of the Earth aboard the USC&GS ship Pioneer. Chronicled in four volumes, the International Indian Ocean Expedition covered 31,507 nautical miles over six months in 1964.
Fall 2020
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University of Washington, GPO’s newest Digital Content Contributor, digitized a 1947 tri-fold brochure from the Treasury Department’s Savings Bond Marketing Office.
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GPO continues to partner with the Colorado School of Mines to catalog electronic versions of the USGS Water-Resources Investigations Report series. Explore a selection in the CGP.
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Washington State Library contributes government publications digitized in response to user or ILL request for ingest into govinfo. Two recently contributed publications include Crime Against the Elderly: A Double Edged Sword and Low Cost Bridge Deck Surface Treatment.
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In collaboration with the Treasury Library, FRASER has released a collection of Press Releases of the United States Department of the Treasury spanning 1916 to present.
Summer 2020
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Census 2020 is still going strong! Dive into historic Census material digitized by the Census Bureau, including A Century of Population Growth.
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Collaboration between GPO and the Law Library of Congress to catalog historical legal reports continues. Procedure for Obtaining a Patent under Japanese Law is just one example of the digitized reports available in the Publications of the Law Library of Congress collection.
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Read the report of the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians, established in 1980 to review Executive Order 9066 and directives of United States military forces and their impact on American citizens and permanent resident aliens.
In 1878, the U.S. Geological Survey submitted a Report on the Methods of Surveying the Public Domain to the National Academy of Sciences, which had been directed by Congress to consider the methodology and expenses of land surveys.
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Explore older FDLP and GPO publications recently added to govinfo, including the 1995 GPO Access: Information for Depository Libraries.
Spring 2020
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Check out the first edition of the U.S. Government Manual, published in 1935. You can learn more about the Government departments that were set up over 80 years ago.
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Find out about transportation planning in Idaho from the Transportation Plan and Implementation Program, Annual Report, May 1975.
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Did you know that Tropical Storm Agnes caused serious flooding in New York in June 1972? Read about it in Floods in New York, 1972: with Special Reference to Tropical Storm Agnes.
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Learn about labor laws in Europe before World War I from the Administration of Labor Laws and Factory Inspections in Certain European Countries.
Winter 2019
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Did wood-pulp mills in New York contribute to pollution in Lake Champlain? The USGS investigated in 1905.
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Want to know more about banking conditions in the U.S. and other countries before World War I? Check out this January 1912 report from the National Monetary Commission.
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Learn how three paintings, including a Rembrandt, were stolen from Germany in 1922 and ended up in Ohio. The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce discussed the potential return of the paintings to West Germany during this 89th Congress hearing.
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Check out the Hearing before the Committee on Foreign Relations during the 90th Congress to learn more about the military realities in Vietnam.
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Read a briefing on compliance to the SALT I treaty before the Committee on Foreign Relations in the 96th Congress.
Fall 2019
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Get ready to celebrate National American Indian Heritage Month with Public Law 101-343, which designated November 1990 as the first National American Indian Heritage Month, and accompanying Proclamation 6230.
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The map Northwest sector No. 10-22, issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1944, was digitized and contributed by Washington State Library.
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Dietary intake findings: United States, 1971-1974 reported data from the first Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HANES) on the intakes of various nutrients by the U.S. population, for individuals aged 1-74 years.
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Contributed by Boise State University, this Natural Resources Conservation Service publication chronicled natural resources on nonfederal land in Idaho in 1982.
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A 1981 CBO Study looked at strategies for reducing the federal budget for fiscal years 1982-1986.
Summer 2019
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Celebrating the immigrant offers a history of the Statue of Liberty, and information about the planning, financing, and building of the American Museum of Immigration.
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Learn about the United States Marine Corps in this chronicle of the service branch’s first 70 years.
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One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind. Commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing with digitized posters from the University of Iowa.
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Looking for educational activities to beat the heat? This NOAA activity book teaches climate science through interactive activities.
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Digitized and contributed by Washington State Library, Wildlife Circular 3 describes the implementation of the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Act, passed in 1937.
Spring 2019
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Considering renovating a historic property? This report from the National Park Service offers an extensive history of wallpaper styles and technologies, and guidance for restoration projects.
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Government publications are fun for all ages! Enjoy this picture book and learn about the mating patterns of mallard ducks.
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The Works Progress Administration provided employment for 8,500,000 individuals over the course of the program’s eight years in operation. The Final Report on the WPA Program, 1935-43 chronicles projects undertaken, employment by state and project, and program expenditures.
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In 1961 the U.S. Government passed H.R. 5442, mandating the inclusion of a maker’s mark on gold and silver articles. This hearing describes the need for expanded consumer protection, beyond the scope of the National Stamping Act.
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Looking for a fun staff development activity? Learn about wildlife and relieve stress with this coloring book from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.