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Core Documents of Our Democracy: Basics on Historical Document Research

The resources found in this guide are vital sources of information that support the public's right to know about the workings and essential activities of the Federal Government.

Possible Harmful Language when Doing Research in the Library Catalog

At TCU, fostering a strong sense of community is central to our mission of developing ethical leaders and critical thinkers who are prepared to engage with a global society. We are committed to creating an environment where people from all backgrounds can thrive and contribute to our shared goals. A connected community leads to innovation, broader perspectives, and deeper understanding—values that lie at the heart of higher education.

Our library strives to provide descriptions that accurately reflect the richness of our collections while being mindful of the language used. We recognize that some descriptions in our catalog may contain outdated or offensive language, including terms that may be considered harmful. These terms may appear in older records created in previous decades. We are committed to minimizing the use of hurtful language in our catalog and invite you to reach out if you encounter such language.

Harmful or offensive language may appear for the following reasons:

  • Some terms originally used to describe historically marginalized communities have been reclaimed by members of those communities.
  • Language that was once in common use may no longer be appropriate or accepted by those it describes.
  • We use standardized systems like Library of Congress Subject Headings for consistency in cataloging, but some terms within those systems have not yet been updated and may continue to reflect outdated language.
  • In some cases, information has been transcribed directly from the original materials, which may include language reflective of past eras.

We understand that we are often describing communities with which we are not personally connected. As such, we are committed to ensuring that our descriptions are respectful and accurate. While we acknowledge that we may not always get it right, we are dedicated to ongoing reflection and improvement in our cataloging practices.

We are taking steps to address these issues, including reviewing and updating existing records and refining our processes for the future. This is a complex and continuous process, but we are fully committed to making progress. If you encounter language that feels hurtful or offensive in our catalog records, please contact us at LIBCataloging@tcu.edu .

This statement was adapted from those of Emory Libraries.  Last updated on 2/25/2025.

Cumulative Subject Index to the Monthly Catalog of United States Government Publications 1900-1971

  • Using this index stops you from having to search the Monthly Catalog year by year. 
  • Once you’ve found the desired subject the year will be in parenthesis and the page number or citation number will follow. 
  • Find topic in the index, then go to the particular Monthly Catalog for the exact tangible document information, and then use that information to search in Proquest. 
  • Be prepared to use era appropriate terminology when searching the index.

Once you have identified the document you are looking for in the Monthly Catalog, go to the database ProQuest Congressional Hearings and choose the following options to find the document you're interested in:

  • Under "Legislative & Executive Publications" select "Search by Number"
  • Then under "Publication Search" choose "Publication Number"
  • To get the exact document listed in the Monthly Catalog, select the appropriate:
    • Publication type (examples:  House Report (H.rpt.), Senate document (S.doc.), Senate Hearing (S.hrg.)
    • Congress
  • Type in the publication number
  • Click on "Search"

Image of ProQuest Congressional Hearings Search by Number page

Checklist of United States Public Documents 1789-1909

  • The book is set-up in SuDoc order detailing what’s been published and the history of that document including possible changes in department or agency or if/when the document ceased publication

Cumulative Title Index to United States Public Documents 1789-1976

  • Anything before July, 1976 is pre-online, so this document is very useful for research prior to that date.
  • Only useful with exact titles.  This book will give you the SuDoc number for the specific title.

Cumulative Subject Guide to United States Government Bibliographies

  • Search a particular topic and it will provide you with SuDoc numbers significant to the topic.

CIS Legislative Histories

  • This document shows the progression of a law through congress including bills, hearings, etc…
  • This document is ONLINE ONLY in our collection.

Print Versions of the Documents Referenced in this Section may be found in the Documents Alcove