This research guide identifies the major British Parliamentary Papers accessible in the University of Delaware Library. The Parliamentary Papers, like congressional publications in the United States, contain a wealth of information for students and scholars. Like their U.S. counterparts, they are difficult to navigate. Some of the British Parliamentary Papers series and most of the individual Parliamentary Papers are not described in DELCAT and therefore you must use other means to find them in the Library.
The purpose of this guide is to lead you to the location of Parliamentary Papers originating from both chambers of Parliament, throughout hundreds of years, held in various formats in several locations in the Library. The guide is divided into two main sections: Sessional Papers and Reports of Debates. Under each of these two main sections, there are separate subsections for the House of Commons and for the House of Lords.
For information on the history and use of Parliamentary Papers, these guides are useful:
Bond, Maurice F. Guide to the Records of Parliament. London: H.M.S.O., 1971.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Reference (Ref CD1063 .B63)
Ford, P., and G. Ford. A Guide to Parliamentary Papers: What They Are, How to Find Them, How to Use Them. 3d ed. Totowa, N.J.: Rowman and Littlefield, 1972.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Reference (Ref Z2009 .F6 1972)
Rodgers, Frank. A Guide to British Government Publications. New York: H. W. Wilson,
1980.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Reference (Ref Z2000 .R62).
Pp. 69-180 cover Parliamentary Papers.
The United Kingdom Parliament [http://www.parliament.uk/] Web site also provides information on Parliamentary publications as well as the full text of recent papers and debates.
Sessional Papers are traditionally classified into three main divisions: bills (public and private); reports (of Commissioners and Committees); and accounts and papers. Command Papers, printed by order of the House of Commons, are often considered a separate category.
Standard Citation. Each volume has a number within its sessional series and is referred to by year/session and volume number (in Roman numerals), e.g., 1856 LII. Individual papers within the volume are given sessional numbers, a running series for each session, e.g., 1818 (57) III. 99—representing the session date, the paper number (in parentheses), and the volume and page number of the sessional collection. Command Papers have their own unique numbered series:
Some early papers were not printed separately but were included in the Journal.
Online indexing and abstracting of many Sessional Papers is available through the BOPCRIS [http://www.bopcris.ac.uk/] Web site.
These are useful print indexes:
Cockton, Peter. Subject Catalogue of the House of Commons Parliamentary Papers,
1801-1900, 5 vols. Cambridge, Eng.: Chadwyck-Healey, 1988.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Reference (Ref DA530 .C64 1988)
Ford, P. and Ford, G. Select List of British Parliamentary Papers, 1833-1899.
Oxford, Eng.: Basil Blackwell, 1953.
LOCATION: Morris Library - J301 .M3 1953
Ford, P., Ford, G., and Marshallsay, Diana. Select List of British Parliamentary Papers, 1955-1964. Shannon: Irish University Press, 1970.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Reference (Ref J301 .M3 1970).
General Index to the Bills, Reports and Papers Printed by Order of the House of Commons and to the Reports and Papers Presented by Command, 1900 to 1948-49. London: H.M.S.O., 1960.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Reference (Ref Z2009 .G74)
General Index to the Reports [etc.] Printed by Order of
the House of Commons 1801-1899. Reprint ed. Shannon: Irish University Press, 1978.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Reference (Ref Z2009 .I73 v.2-8)
Hansard’s Catalogue and Breviate of Parliamentary Papers, 1696-1834. Oxford, Eng.: Basil Blackwell, 1953.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Folio J301 .K62 1953
Hansard’s Catalogue and Breviate of Parliamentary Papers, 1696-1834. Shannon, Irish University Press, 1978.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Reference (Ref Z2009 .I73 v.1)
House of Commons Sessional Papers of the Eighteenth Century, 1715-1800.
LOCATION: Library Annex - J301 .K6
Facsimile ed., in 147 vols., edited by Sheila Lambert. For an overview and index, see her Introduction and List, 1715-1760; and List, 1761-1800. These comprise the first two vols. of the set itself (J301 .K6 v.1-2). See also her earlier List of House of Commons Sessional Papers, 1701-1750 (London: List and Index Society, 1968) (CD1042 .A2L56 v.1) and either edition of Hansard’s Catalogue and Breviate of Parliamentary Papers, 1696-1834 (Folio J301 .K62 1953 and Ref Z2009 .I73 v.1).
Parliamentary Papers [19th Century Parliamentary Papers] (authorized University of Delaware users
only)
LOCATION: Databases
Comprehensive collection which includes all of the papers issued by the House of Commons between 1801-1900 in all formats. All of the papers are full-text searchable with hit-term highlighting, and accompanied by the bibliographic data and subject indexing from Peter Cockton’s Subject Catalogue to the House of Commons Parliamentary Papers, 1801-1900 (Ref DA530 .C64 1988).
Irish University Press Series of British Parliamentary Papers, 1801-1899.
LOCATION: individually cataloged, all shelved in the Library Annex
A 1000-volume series of the most important 19th century Sessional Papers. Indexed by: Checklist of British Parliamentary Papers in the Irish University Press 1000-Volume Series 1801-1899 (Shannon: Irish University, Press, 1972) (Ref Z2009 .I72). The table of contents of the Checklist is annotated with the call numbers of the individual volumes of the series.
For the 20th century, Percy Ford, A Breviate of Parliamentary Papers, 3 vols., covering 1900-1954 (Ref JN549 .F6 1951) gives substantial summaries of selected papers.
Sessional Papers, 60 vols., 1744-1805 (Dobbs Ferry, NY: Oceana,
1972-76).
LOCATION: Morris Library (Folio J301 .J62)
Reprint edition. Indexed by Hansard’s Catalogue and Breviate of Parliamentary Papers, 1696-1834 (Folio J301 .K62 1953 and Ref Z2009 .I73 v.1); the last vols. by General Index, 1801-1884/5, 4 vols., accompanying the set (Folio J301 .J62).
An official source of information on what was said in Parliament did not exist until the 20th century. Until the late 18th century, there was strong opposition to reporting debates in any form. Various early compilations come to the closest to a record of debates before Hansard.
These titles cover both Houses of Parliament:
The Journal of the House of Commons, vols. 1-12 (1547-1699) and vol. 85 (1830) and Journal of the House of Lords, vols. 1-20 (1509-1717) and vols. 62-64 (1830-1832) are available at the British History Online [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/subject.asp?subject=6] Web site.
Parliamentary or Constitutional History of England from the Earliest Times, 24
vols. London, 1751-63.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Special Collections (Spec J301 .H18 1751)
Sometimes called the Old Parliamentary History.
Parliamentary History of England from the Earliest Period to the Year 1803, 36 vols. Printed by T. C. Hansard [etc.] 1806-20.
LOCATION: Morris Library - J301 .H2
Known as Cobbett’s Parliamentary History, after William Cobbett, its original editor. The later volumes were completed by Thomas Curson Hansard.
Dewes, Simonds, Sir. A Compleat Journal of the Votes, Speeches and Debates, Both of
the House of Lords and House of Commons, throughout the Whole Reign of Queen Elizabeth [I]. London: Printed for Jonathan Robinson ..., 1693.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Folio J301 .H14 1693b (Reprint ed., Wilmington, Del: Scholarly Resources, 1974.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Microforms (MFilm S1.5 1614:1)
LOCATION: Morris Library - Microforms (MFilm S1.5 664:3)
Dewes, Simonds, Sir. A Compleat Journal of the Votes, Speeches and Debates, Both of
the House of Lords and House of Commons, throughout the Whole Reign of Queen Elizabeth [I]. London: Printed by J.S. and sold by Jonathan Robinson ..., 1708.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Microforms (MFilm S278 no. 4526)
Simmons, R. C. and Thomas, P. D. G., eds. Proceedings and Debates of the British
Parliaments Respecting North America, 1754-1783, 7 vols. to date. Millwood, N.Y.:
Kraus Reprint, 1982-.
LOCATION: Morris Library - E187 .G79 1982
House of Commons Journals, 23 vols., 1547-1741.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Special Collections (Spec Folio+ J301 .K3)
Exists from the 16th century except for a brief period from 1584-1601. Not a verbatim report of debates, but minutes of each session and a record of business transacted. Before the 19th century, many reports and papers were printed in full in the Journals. Each volume has an index.
A Collection of the Parliamentary Debates in England, from the Year 1688 to the Present
Time. London, 1741.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Special Collections (Spec J301 .H8 1742)
Library lacks some volumes.
The History and Proceedings of the House of Commons from the Restoration to the Present
Time, 14 vols. London: Printed for Richard Chandler, 1741-44.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Special Collections (Spec J301 .K2)
Debates and Proceedings of the British House of Commons, 1743-1772.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Special Collections (Spec J301 .K212)
Continues the volume numbering of The History and Proceedings.
Parliamentary Register; or History of the Proceedings and Debates ... during the fourteenth Parliament of Great Britain ... [1774-80], 17 vols. London, 1775-80.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Microforms (Mfilm S 278 no. 11223 v.1-v.17)
Parliamentary Register; or History of the Proceedings and Debates ... during the fifteenth [-seventeenth] Parliament of Great Britain ... October 1780 [-1795/6], 45 vols. London, 1784-96.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Microforms (Mfilm S 278 no. 12542 v.1-v.45)
Parliamentary Register; or History of the Proceedings and Debates ... during the 1st Session of the 15th Parliament - 2d Session of the 16th Parliament, 18 vols. London, 1784-85.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Special Collections (Spec J301 .K215)
Parliamentary Debates, 1803 to date (called “Hansard”).
LOCATION: Morris Library (J301 .K22 1970/1971-1995/1996)
LOCATION: Library Annex (J301 .K22 1812-1970 [some gaps])
LOCATION: Microforms (Mfilm S 277 1900-1905)
The first 12 vols., covering 1803/4-1812, are known as Cobbett’s Parliamentary Debates and from 1829, as Hansard’s Parliamentary Debates, after the names of the editors. The Parliamentary Debates consist of several series: 1st series, 1803-1820 (41 vols.); 2d series (“new series”), 1820-1830 (25 vols.); 3rd series, 1830-1891 (356 vols.); 4th series, 1892-1908 (199 vols.); 5th series, 1909-1981; 6th series, 1981 to date. It became an official report (i.e., substantially verbatim) in 1909. The last volume for each session is or includes a general index for the volumes in that session. Beginning in 1909 (with the 5th series), the Commons and Lords Debates, which had previously been published together, were separated. The House of Lords 5th series is still ongoing; the House of Commons 5th series ended in 1981. An index to the Debates of the House of Commons and to the Debates of the House of Lords for the years 1803-1830 is available in the “Government Documents Indices” series of the Nineteenth Century Masterfile database.
Great Britain. Parliament. House of Lords. The History and Proceedings of the House of Lords from the Restoration in 1660 to the Present Time Containing the Most Remarkable Motions, Speeches, Debates, Orders and Resolutions. 8 vols. London: Printed for Ebenezer Timberland, 1742-43.
LOCATION: Morris Library - Special Collections (Spec J301 .J2)
LOCATION: Morris Library - Microforms (Microfilm S278 no. 7881)
Parliamentary Debates, 1803 to date (known as “Hansard”).
LOCATION: Morris Library - J301 .J22 1970/1971-1995/1996
LOCATION: Library Annex - J301 .J22 1909-1969
For notes, see above, under House of Commons.
Search and browse this site for information from official British publications, including Parliamentary Papers, for the period 1688-1995, as an alternative or supplement to the printed indexes listed above. You may limit a search only to Sessional Papers (using advanced search), and you may browse by broad subject and by chronological period. Detailed subject indexing of key documents and abstracts are available, as well as digitized full-text versions of a limited number of documents.
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