Official court reporting in American courtrooms was brought about by the skill, dedication, and determination of a remarkable group of pioneer shorthand writers. Many of them were reformers, some were entrepreneurs, and others were inventors, writers, artists, and scientists. All of them were gifted shorthand professionals whose work made legal proceedings more reliable, more efficient, and fairer. Using a variety of sources including 19th century newspapers, shorthand periodicals, records of shorthand associations, county histories and government reports and records, Herbert C. Hallas explains how official court reporting got its start in the United States and tells the stories of eleven pioneer court reporters whose work ensured that official court reporting would become a key component in the American pursuit of due process of law.

The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session. The Congressional Record began publication in 1873. Debates for sessions prior to 1873 are recorded in The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States (1789-1824), the Register of Debates in Congress (1824-1837), and the Congressional Globe (1833-1873)