Unique Congressional Documents

The U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO), the country's largest in-plant, just opened a new exhibit featuring unusual and unique congressional documents. Titled "Around the World in 80 Documents: A Journey Through the Congressional Serial Set,” the exhibit uses the itinerary of Jules Verne's 1873 novel, Around the World in 80 Days, to discover treasures in the Congressional Serial Set, which has been published continuously since the 15th Congress in 1817.

The Serial Set is a vast compilation of reports and documents that reflect every deliberation, concern and interest of the Senate and House of Representatives. It forms what has been called by historians a "splendid record and a memory of our past experience." The Serial Set has been published by GPO since it opened its doors in 1861.

“GPO has been the government’s publisher since 1861, and this exhibit is a fascinating way to view important and unusual congressional documents of the past,” says GPO Director Davita Vance-Cooks.

"Around the World in 80 Documents" is on view through December in GPO’s 150th Anniversary Exhibit, 732 North Capitol Street NW, Washington, D.C., Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The exhibit is free and open to the public.