Introduction | Debates & Proceedings in Parliament | Sessional Papers (Bills, Reports and Papers) | Related Collections | Members of Parliament | Histories of Parliament | Sources of Additional Information | Help
Introduction
This guide is intended to provide assistance in locating British Parliamentary Papers within the Penn State library. Most of the Parliamentary Papers in the Library are in either the Social Sciences library, 2nd Floor Paterno, or the Library Annexes.
The term Parliamentary Papers typically refers to the following types of British government documents:
- Journals, Votes, Proceedings and Debates (Records of what was said or done in Parliament)
- Bills, Reports, & Papers (Working documents, usually referred to as the Sessional Papers)
The web page of the U.K. Parliament provides an overview of the workings of Parliament, and includes full-text of recent documents. For additional background reading on the history and types of documents produced by Parliament consult the following guides:
Ford, Percy. A Guide to Parliamentary Papers 1972. Z2009.A1.F6 1972, Social Sciences Reference Collection, 2nd Floor Paterno
Pemberton, John E. British Official Publications. 1973. Z2009.P45, Social Sciences Reference Collection, 2nd Floor Paterno
For help locating or using the British Parliamentary Papers contact
Helen Sheehy, Government Documents Librarian, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno. 814-863-1347
Eric Novotny, History Librarian, Arts and Humanities Library, 2nd Floor Pattee, 814-865-1014
Debates & Proceedings
DEBATES
Debates are the records of parliamentary speeches. Until the early 20th Century the published Debates were unofficial and often based on secondary reports such as newspaper articles. Beginning in 1909 the House of Commons and Lords Debates were separated. Prior to 1909 the two houses of Parliament jointly published their debates.
Locating Parliamentary Debates:
1688-1800 18th Century Parliamentary Papers Digitization Project. Goal is to create a digital library of texts of all surviving 18th century Parliamentary Papers, Bills, Journals and Reports.
1066-1803 Parliamentary History of England from the Earliest Period to the Year 1803.
Call #KD68.G7.
Popularly known as Cobbett's after the compiler, William Cobbett. Volumes are in the and can be requested via the CAT or at the nearest service desk.
1803-1908 Parliamentary Debates
Call #KD68.G72
Commonly known as Hansard's, these volumes contain the debates of both the House of Lords and Commons. Indexes are found at the end of each session. Volumes are in the and can be requested via the CAT or at the nearest service desk
After 1908 the Debates of the House of Commons and Lords are published separately under the title Parliamentary Debates
1909-1976
Call #KD68.G72. Volumes are in the and can be requested via the CAT or at the nearest service desk Indexes are found at the end of each session.
1976-1998
Call #KD68.G72, Social Sciences, Library, 2nd Floor Paterno. The library no longer receives published volumes of the debates in Parliament. For current years see the online editions below.
1989- House of Commons Home Page
1996- House of Lords Home Page
JOURNALS
Journals are the official and permanent record of the proceedings of Parliament. They include motions passed, amended, withdrawn, committee memberships, and lists of papers laid before each House. A journal usually covers one complete Parliamentary session. The Journals report on the activities of Parliament, they are not a record of what was said. The Journals do not typically include the text of debates or speeches.
House of Commons
1547-1900
Call Microprint.G798j, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno. Includes indexes.
1950-1996
Call #J301.K3, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno. For years after 1996 see the online Journal below.
1996- House of Commons Home Page
House of Lords
The House of Lords Journals are not held at the University Park campus. The State library in Harrisburg has a set of the Journals
1996- House of Lords Home Page
Sessional Papers
The bound volumes of Parliament documents commonly known as the "Sessional Papers" include bills, reports from committees, State Papers (e.g. Treaties), papers presented by Royal Commissions or by Government departments ("Command Papers"), and statements of Governmental policy ("White Papers").
House of Commons Sessional Papers
1688-1800 18th Century Parliamentary Papers Digitization Project. Goal is to create a digital library of texts of all surviving 18th century Parliamentary Papers, Bills, Journals and Reports.
1731-1979 Call #Microprint.G798s, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno
1801-1900 Irish University Press Reprint Series.
Call #J301.J2 1968. A massive series containing reprints of selected 19th Century Parliamentary Documents. Volumes are in the Cato Park Annex and can be requested via the CAT or at the nearest service desk
1948-1975
Call #J301.K6, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno (paper volumes)
1979-???
Call #Micro 4, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno (CAT shows only up to 1984, but also indicates a current subscription)
Indexes to House of Commons Sessional Papers:
Hansard's Catalogue and Breviate of Parliamentary Papers, 1699-1834
Call #J301.K62, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno. Reference Collection
Subject Catalogue of the House of Commons Parliamentary Papers, 1801-1900
Call #Z2019 C63 1988, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno. Reference Collection
General index to the Bills, Reports and Papers...House of Commons...1900-1949.
Call #J301.K625 Index, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno. Reference Collection
Irish University Press series of British parliamentary papers. (selected coverage 1801-1900) Call #J301.J2 1968, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno. Reference Collection
The Readex index to British parliamentary papers.
Call #J301.M7 CD-ROM,
Paterno - 2nd Floor - Electronic Resources
House of Lords Sessional Papers
The library has only selected years of the House of Lords Sessional Papers as indicated below.
1948-1972/3. (Incomplete holdings).
Call #J301.J6, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno
1996-present House of Lords (selected documents)
Members of Parliament
Dod's Parliamentary Companion.
Call # JN500.D7. Library has 1957-1959, 1966-1995. Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno. Latest in Social Sciences Reference Collection. Years prior to 1957 can be obtained via Interlibrary Loan
Members of Parliament, 1734-1832.
Call # JN672.J8, Social Sciences Reference, 2nd Floor Paterno
Who Was Who (Great Britian).
Call #DA28.W65, Arts and Humanities Reference, 2nd Floor Pattee.
Who's Who of British Members of Parliament: A biographical Dictionary of the House of Commons based on Annual Volumes of Dod's Parliamentary Companion and Other Sources. Call # JN672.W47 1976, Social Sciences Reference, 2nd Floor Paterno. 4 volumes cover 1832-1979.
Histories of Parliament
The History of Parliament Trust has published a series of volumes on the House of Commons. Additional volumes are in progress.
The House of Commons, 1386-1421.
Call # JN673.R593, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno
The House of Commons, 1509-1558.
Call # JN675.1509, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno
The House of Commons, 1558-1603.
Call # JN675.1558.H37, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno
The House of Commons, 1660-1690.
Call # JN675.1660.H4, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno
The House of Commons, 1715-1754.
Call # JN675.1715.S4, Social Sciences Reference, 2nd Floor Paterno
The House of Commons, 1754-1790.
Call # JN672.N2, Social Sciences Reference, 2nd Floor Paterno
The House of Commons, 1790-1820.
Call # JN675.1790.T48 1986, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno
Related Collections of Documents
The collections below contain reproductions of selected British official documents.
Calendar of State Papers. Call number varies, search the CAT. Contains descriptions and summaries of royal documents preserved in the Public Records Office.
Eighteenth Century Collection Online Full texts and images of nearly 150,000 titles and editions printed in the British Isles and the Americas between 1701 and 1800, including materials in foreign languages as well as in English.
Proceedings and Debates of the British Parliaments Respecting North America.
1542-1754,
Call # 973.2G79p, Annexed Material.
1754-1783, Call # E187.G79 1982, Pattee Stacks Level 1
Statutes at Large From Magna Carta to the end of the 11th Parliament of Great Britain, Anno 1761 (continued to 1806).
Call # MICRO 4 GBSL,
News and Microforms Library, Ground Floor, West Pattee.
Statutes of the Realm.
Call # KD.G798, Business Library, 3rd Floor Paterno
Sources of Additional Information
General Guides
BOPCRIS, British Official Publications. You can use this web site to search and browse information from British Official Publications over the period 1688-1995
Ford, Percy. A Guide to Parliamentary Papers.
Call # Z2009.A1F6 1972, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno, Reference Collection
Pemberton, John E. British Official Publications. 1973.
Call # Z2009.P45, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno, Reference Collection
Rodgers, Frank. A Guide to British Government Publications. 1980
Call # Z2009.R63, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno. Reference Collection
Help
This guide does not list every source for locating Parliamentary Papers. For additional assistance ask at the nearest service desk, or contact:
Helen Sheehy, Government Documents Librarian, Social Sciences Library, 2nd Floor Paterno. 814-863-1347
Eric Novotny, History Librarian, Arts and Humanities Library, 2nd Floor Pattee, 814-865-1014, IM: HistoryLibrarian