New Digital Resources: House of Commons Parliamentary Papers
The House of Commons Parliamentary Papers, 19th Century (HCCP) are vital to the historical record of Britain, its former Colonies and the wider world. They are among the richest and most detailed primary sources for the history of the 1800's. Before the advent of a fully formed Whitehall departmental system, Parliament was the main source of public information, ordering the publication of papers, returns, reports and evidence on a grand scale. These papers and reports are often fascinating and exhaustive in their detail. While it does include 4.2 million pages, HCCP does not include debates (Hansard), the House of Commons Journal, or daily business papers, such as Order papers and Votes and Proceedings. These are outside the scope of a precise application of the term parliamentary papers.
Scholar will find they cover a wide range of social, economic, legal and political topics, showing how issues were explored and legislation was formed. Read the bills, documents, and papers related to:
- Great Irish famine
- Women's suffrage
- African slave trade
- John Stuart Mill
- Arctic expeditions
- Census
With searchable full text, browseable subject catalogue, and detailed subject indexing, HCPP makes it possible to fully exploit the enormous potential of this resource for the first time.
Reference Services, Rivera Library
