History of the U.S. Government Printing Office

The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) was created in 1860 by an Act of Congress. GPO opened its doors for business on March 4, 1861, the same day that Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as President. Through war and peace, boom and bust, GPO has been there, producing and distributing the official publications of our government.

Printers set type by hand under candlelight. Printing presses were driven by steam and deliveries each morning to the Capitol were by horse-drawn cart. Since then, GPO has had to adapt to new technologies and new ways of meeting the information and product needs of Congress, Federal Agencies, and the American people.

GPO plays four roles today that are crucial to the information product operations of the Federal Government:

- A role in the legislative process by producing work for the United States Congress;

- A crucial role in our Nation's security and intelligent documents for Federal agencies, most prominently the electronic passport of the State Department;

- A supportive role to all of the agencies and organizations for the Federal government by helping them meet their printing and communications needs and;

- A facilitating role by working with the library community to provide free, open, and permanent public access to the documents of our democracy through the Federal Depository Library Program.

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[MSJanis318]

it's ok

[Flextones]

Yankees are a wonderfully blessed people. Americans have done somethings right and have done them very well. The government printing office is great resource from which to obtain knowledge which empowers. It pays to know. If you are an American you have to love this country. It's all free of cost to you as a citizen. What a country!