Reports, documents, and journals of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives 1817-1994, with considerable content pertaining to the discovery, exploration, and boundaries of Alaska and northern Canada. Alternative title is Archive of Americana.
The United States Congressional Serial Set is an extensive collection of publications continually issued and compiled under the direction of Congress since 1817. It is often viewed as a key primary resource documenting the history of growth and development of the entire country. Most U.S. government publications of the 19th century were Congressional and therefore included in the Serial Set. Many of the historically important exploration surveys, scientific reports, and ethnological reports from that era were published in Serial Set volumes. The set was reduced in size and scope around World War I, but it remains an important source for tracing legislative history and the intent of Congress.
The set now numbers over 15,000 volumes. The UAF library has a small collection of the original printed volumes having extensive Alaskan content or major national topical significance. The online version includes the full text and high resolution images of accompanying maps and illustrative material for the entire set up to 1994. A simple search for “Alaska” results in over 3800 citations. Included are the Alaska Purchase Treaty of 1867, reports from several territorial governors, several 19th century exploration surveys, the proceedings of the Alaskan Boundary Tribunal, and legislative reports pertaining to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.
U.S. congressional materials originating from 1789 and covering through 1838 but not published until the second and third quarters of the 19th century.
