This four-volume work provides a comprehensive history of congressional committee membership in the United States Congress. It details committee organization and membership from the first session in 1789 until the post-World War II era, complementing existing post-war data. The set focuses on select committees, which were crucial for conducting much of Congress's business prior to the modern period. It lists all select committees and the length of membership for each member.

This extensive reference set is designed to provide research libraries with a complete collection of historical data on congressional committee membership, a resource previously unavailable in print. By detailing committee organization and membership from the early days of the republic through the mid-20th century, it offers scholars unprecedented access to information on the functioning of the U.S. Congress. The work specifically highlights the role of select committees, which were instrumental in legislative processes before the modern era. Its comprehensive nature and the assembly of previously disparate data make it an invaluable tool for understanding the evolution of congressional power and practice.