NOTE: A significant portion of the Government Documents paper collection that dates prior to 1976 and goes back as far as 1789 cannot be identified using EUCLID. Fortunately, there exist a number of tools to identify government publications printed prior to 1976. Be aware that some of the retrospective catalogs and indexes listed below are themselves the product of an earlier century. If you need assistance in searching, please don't hesitate to ask at the Reference Desk on Level 2.

The Monthly Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (1893 to date)
Documents Reference GP3 .8/8
Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (1994 to date)

The basic list of government publications. Both printed and online versions are available. The print version of the Monthly Catalog covers from 1893 to the present and is primarily used for pre-1976 publications. Earlier versions of the Monthly Catalog exist in varied titles (House Documents and Document Catalogue). Periodicals and other series are listed annually in the Periodicals Supplement.
Cumulative indexes exist for the following periods: 1941-1950, 1951-1960, 1961-1965, 1966-1970, and 1971-1976. A cumulative title index from 1789-1976 can be found under the call number Reference Desk KF40 .C62 1979. Subject indexes to the Monthly Catalog are also available for the years 1895-1899 [Reference Z1223 .A1847 Volumes 1 & 2], and 1900-1971 [Reference Z1223 .A185 Volumes 1-15].
Until 1995, publications in paper received by the library through the depository program were checked off in the Monthly Catalog. A checkmark in indexes through 1995, then, indicates that the library has that checked item in paper. In addition, all depository titles (identified in the Catalog by a large black dot and an item number) from 1980 to date are available in the Documents microfiche collection on Level 1.

Guide to United States Government Publications
Reference Desk Z1223 .Z7 A5459 [Date]

Provides a comprehensive annotated guide to the important series, periodicals and reference tools published by U.S. government agencies (including Congress), as well as a historical record of agencies, their publications and the Superintendent of Documents call numbers assigned. Especially useful for tracking publications over time. Latest issue is at the Reference Desk, while back issues are in the Stacks.

Descriptive Catalogue of the Government Publications of the U.S., 1774-1881
Poore, Benjamin P.
Reference Desk Y 1.1/2:SERIAL 2268

Provides a chronological list which gives the title, author and date of each document. The subject and name index at the end of the volume refers the user to the page on which the document is listed. The page must then be browsed to locate the entry or entries. NOTE: This index does not give the classification numbers necessary for finding the material in the Woodruff Library. To find publications listed in this index, you will need to consult either the Checklist of U.S. Government Publications, 1789-1909 (Reference Desk GP 3.2:C 41/2/953/V.1), OR with staff at the Reference Desk.

Comprehensive Index to the Publications of the U.S. Government, 1881-1893
Ames, J.C.
Reference Desk Y 1.1/2:SERIAL 4745
Reference Desk Y 1.1/2:SERIAL 4746

Ames's 2 volume collection is arranged alphabetically by subject. There is a personal author index as well. NOTE: This index does not give the classification numbers necessary for finding the material in the Woodruff Library. To find publications listed in this index, you will need to consult either the Checklist of U.S. Government Publications, 1789-1909 (Reference Desk GP 3.2:C 41/2/953/V.1), OR with staff at the Reference Desk.

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Document Catalogue, 1893-1940
Documents Reference GP3 .6: 1-25

A dictionary catalog listing publications by agency, subject, title, and author. Provides the best subject approach to government publications from 1893-1940. Each of the 25 volumes of the Catalogue covers approximately two years of government publishing activity. NOTE: This index does not give the classification numbers necessary for finding the material in the Woodruff Library. To find publications listed in this index, you will need to consult either the Checklist of U.S. Government Publications, 1789-1909 (Reference Desk GP 3.2:C 41/2/953/V.1), OR with staff at the Reference Desk.

Cumulative Title Index to United States Public Documents, 1789-1976
Reference Desk KF40 .C62

This 16-volume set contains an alphabetical listing of titles of book and series publications contained in the Public Documents Library of the Government Printing Office. Unfortunately, the Cumulative Title Index includes only those titles which have been assigned a SuDoc number, thus excluding the numbered reports and documents of Congress from the Serial Set.

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Checklist of U.S. Government Publications, 1789-1909
Reference Desk GP 3.2:C 41/2/953/V.1

Commonly known as the 1909 Checklist, this volume is the basic source for SuDoc numbers prior to the 20th century. Although there is no subject indexing to documents through the 1909 Checklist, the volume is useful for browsing the publishing output of government agencies and for identifying various editions of the same document. An agency index appears at the end of the volume. There are checkmarks next to items held in the Woodruff Library.

Early American Imprints, 1639-1800
Microfiche 1367

This collection contains U.S. documents and other materials published in the United States before 1800. A two-volume index to this collection is available in Microforms Reference (Microform Reference Z1215 .S495 V.1/V.2) on Level 1. This collection may be helpful in tracking down early documents not covered by the above indexes. It is based on Charles Evans' American Bibliography (Reference Z1215 .E92) and Roger Bristol's Supplement (Reference Z1215 .E92334) to Evans. The collection is indexed in the library catalog, EUCLID.

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Early American Imprints, 1801-1819
Microfiche 1376

This collection is a continuation of the Early American Imprints listed above. This microfiche collection is based on Shaw and Shoemaker's American Bibliography (Reference Z1215 .S48).

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CIS Index to U.S. Executive Branch Documents, 1789-1909: Guide to Documents Listed in Checklist of U.S. Public Documents, 1789-1909, Not Printed in the U.S. Serial Set
Reference KF40 .C56 1990

This index presents a complete annotated bibliography of all Executive Branch documents listed in the 1909 Checklist, including annual reports, general publications, bulletins, instructions, rules and decisions, circulars and catalogs. These documents are indexed by subjects, names, agency report numbers, and SuDoc numbers.

CIS index to U.S. executive branch documents, 1910-1932: guide to documents not printed in the U.S. serial set
KF40 .C56 1996

Covers the full spectrum of materials issued by the bureaus and offices of the Federal executive departments and independent agencies in existence during the period 1910-1932.

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PAIS International (1915 to present)
Reference Z7163 .P92
PAIS International (1971 to present)

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A useful subject index providing access to citations from public policy/public affairs publications relevant to researchers, students, administrators, legislators, and business and financial decision-makers. The Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report is indexed in PAIS.

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CIS/Index to Publications of the United States Congress (1970 to present)
Reference KF49 .C62
Also available through LexisNexis Congressional

Abstracts and indexes congressional hearings, committee prints and public laws as well as the numbered House and Senate reports and documents contained in the Serial Set. Information is indexed by subject, author (personal or corporate), witness, title and bill number. The index volumes refer the user to the abstract section where documents are described and information necessary for locating the publication can be found. Most of the documents listed can be obtained on Level 1 in the Government Documents print or microfiche collections. Some of the documents may be found in the Microfiche 504 collection.

 

U.S. Serial Set Index, 1789-1969
Reference KF40 .C59
Also available through LexisNexis Congressional

An index to the basic publications of Congress (i.e. reports of private and public bills) as well as a variety of documentation which Congress has decided to incorporate into the reports and documents of the House or Senate. The collection is particularly important for the 18th and 19th centuries when most government publications were either originally published as part of the Serial Set or were reprinted in it. Provides access primarily by subject to the over 14,000 volumes which appeared from 1789 to 1969. The 13th Part is a 4-volume index of legislative reports by reported bill and resolution numbers from 1817-1969 (15th - 91st Congresses).
NOTE: We have MANY of the the Serial Set volumes from 1789 to the present in the Government Documents print collection. We also have the Serial Set from 1789 to 1934 (which includes the American State Papers -- 1st through 14th Congresses) on Microfiche 1475. Please consult the Reference Desk.

CIS U.S. Congressional Committee Hearings Index, 1833-1969
Reference KF40 .C53
Also available through LexisNexis Congressional

Provides access to hearings from 1833 through 1969. Indexes refer the user to the "Reference Bibliography" which provides detailed information about the hearing, including its SuDoc number when available. Woodruff Library holds almost all listed hearings in either paper or microfiche, including a microfiche collection covering listed hearings through the 75th Congress (Microfiche 271, 272, 273, 274 and 698). Hearings issued after 1969 are indexed in the CIS Index.

 

CIS Index to Unpublished U.S. House of Representatives Committee Hearings, 1833-1968
Reference KF40 .C54
Also available through LexisNexis Congressional

This index covers House Committee hearings transcripts dated 1833 through 1968 that were never printed and published. It provides index access to the subject matter and issues covered in these hearings, including bills and laws discussed, the Federal agencies concerned, the witnesses who testified and the organizations they represented. The Reference Bibliography accompanying the index volume includes full bibliographic data for each hearing. Microfiche 1165 on Level 1 contains a full-text copy of each hearing indexed.

 

CIS Index to Unpublished U.S. Senate Committee Hearings, 18th-88th Congress, 1823-1964
Reference KF40 .C55
Also available through LexisNexis Congressional

Covers some Senate Committee hearings transcripts dated 1824 through 1964 (the 18th through the 88th Congresses) that were never printed and published. It provides index access to the subject matter and issues covered in these hearings, including bills and laws discussed, the Federal agencies concerned, the witnesses who testified and the organizations they represented. The Reference Bibliography accompanying the index volumes includes full bibliographic data for each hearing. There are also indexes for unpublished Senate Committee hearings for the years 1965-1968 (Reference KF40 .C55 1989 ), and 1969-1972 (Reference KF40 .C55 1995). Microfiche 1164 on Level 1 contains a full-text copy of each hearing indexed.

 

U.S. Congressional Committee Prints Index from the Earliest Publication through 1969
Reference KF40 .C58
Also available through LexisNexis Congressional

Committee prints contain research sponsored by congressional committees. Prints may be detailed studies of individual bills, or wide-ranging background studies of important public issues. The U.S. Congressional Committee Prints Index covers these publications by subject, name, title, committee, bill number and SuDoc number. The Reference Bibliography accompanying the index volumes provides more information. Woodruff Library has all documents contained in the Prints Index in either paper or microfiche, and all of the prints are available on the companion microfiche collection, Microfiche 493 on Level 1. Committee prints published after 1969 are indexed in the CIS Index.

Declassified Documents Catalog (1975 to present)
Reference Z1223 .Z9 D4

Describes and indexes post-World War II government documents formerly classified as Top Secret, Secret or Confidential, that have since been declassified. Material located through this catalog is available through interlibrary loan.