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)

The primary interest of the editors is those branches of the family having the spelling of Pearsall who came from England to America, the first being Thomas Pearsall, tobacco trader of Virginia, who removed there soon after 1630. Vol. 3 includes the autobiography of the editor, Clarence Eugene Pearsall.