Q: Are all finding aids available to be searched on Archon?
A: No. Due to the House Archives only recently acquiring Archon, only a small percentage of our finding aids are available. We are continually adding to our online finding aids, but the process will take some time. If the finding aid for which you are looking is not available please contact the House Archives.

Q: In the Legislative Journal, it mentions the “conference committee report.” Can I get the report?
A: The “Conference Committee Report” is actually nothing more than the final version of the bill and is available on LDP.

Q: In almost every Committee’s finding aid, there is mention of House Blue Backs and Senate Green Backs. What are they?
A: Blue Backs and Green Backs are bills that died in committee. House bills are introduced by their creator and then referred to a committee for discussion. After the committee works on the bill, they may deem it unworthy, impractical or too expensive, and the bill “dies in committee.” However, if the bill seems to have potential, the committee may refer it to another committee or send it to the House Floor where it is discussed, amended and voted upon on three separate occasions. If the bill is approved, it moves to the Senate where the process is repeated. If the bill is approved in the Senate, it usually returns to the House and becomes a law. Any bill that does not because a law is a blue back or a green back, however it is only a blue back or green back in the committee in which it dies. In order to determine if a bill is a blue back or green back in a committee, search for the bill on the LDP site and click on the History tab. If the last line states that the bill was referred to a particular committee, it died in that committee. If however, the history provides an act number, the bill passed through both the House and the Senate and was signed into law by the governor.

Q: Why are some collections more complete than other, particularly in the case of Committee Records which are required to be deposited with the House Archives?
A: We collect what the committee gives us, but each committee is unique and the chair decides how much detail to deposit. The committees are required to provide attendance records for tours, meetings and public hearings; votes, if any were taken; public hearing transcripts; and House and Senate bills and resolutions that died in committee. Some chairs provide the bare minimum, while other provide enormous depth of material.

Q: What is a finding aid and why can’t I look at the actual documents?
A: A finding aid is an index of what is contained within a collection, but it is really only a tool. Because of the many thousands of individual papers in each collection, it is impractical to digitize all the material. Instead, the finding aid simply points the researcher to appropriate folders and narrows the search. The researcher may then visit the House Archives or inquire of staff for more detailed information. Some materials, that are culmination of a committee’s work are digitized and are available in our Digital Library.

Q: I saw that the House Archives was only created in 1978, but I have a relative who served as a representative prior to that date. Will you be able to locate information on him or her?
A: Yes! We have books such as the Legislative Journals, Smull’s Legislative Manuals, the Pennsylvania Manuals, Final House Histories and Laws of Pennsylvania that provide a fair amount of information. Biographies and very basic information is available from 1870 forward and legislation introduced is available from 1925 to the present. Regardless of the time frame, feel free to contact us and we will do anything we can to provide you with as much information as possible.

Q: I am interested in Committee Records from prior to 1978. Can you locate information?
A: Contact us. The chances that we will have materials is dramatically reduced, but there is always a chance that we may have something that can help your research.

Q: I am interested in Senate information or Executive Branch materials. Can you provide that information?
A: Sometimes. Depending upon what you are asking, we can provide some information on Senate Bills, especially if they were referred to House Committees. There is a Senate Library, however, it does not contain archival material. Executive Branch materials are available from the State Archives.

Q: What is the difference between a Select and a Special Committee?
A: Nothing. It is simply a title given to the committee by the House Resolution that creates it. Interestingly, a Task Force serves the same purpose.