Excerpt from History of the Government Printing Office, (at Washington, D. C.): With a Brief Record of the Public Printing for a Century, 1789 1881 The original design of this book was Simply to furnish something which would answer as a guide to the many visitors who yearly inspect the different departments of the Government Printing Office. It was not intended to elaborate it with any allusion to the early printing for the Government 3 to embody in it the laws relating to the subject of public printing; to supply any data of the former business of the office nor to illustrate it as it now appears. It was intended only to recapitulate, in as brief a manner as possible, the present dimensions and capacity of the office, with a reference to the machinery in use, the number of hands engaged, the style of work produced, the manner of its execution, etc. But it has grown greatly beyond its first concep tion, and my own intention and expectation and whether the present design be good or bad, I have no apology to make, as I believe the many historical and other incidents contained in its pages will prove of some value and interest, although possibly not presented in the most attractive form. But few persons outside of a printing Office, or those having daily business with printers, have any idea of the numerous processes through which written matter must pass before it becomes a finished, printed book. Printing is a Slow and tedious business at best, notwithstanding the many and diversified improvements which have been invented to facilitate the rapid production of printed matter. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Find out how America's Government Publishing Office (GPO) transformed through technology to embrace the digital age Keeping America Informed: US GPO A Legacy of Service to the Nation 1861-20016 is the updated historical book that describes GPO's transition from traditional monotype and linotype printing to the digital technology of the 21st Century. Highlights include the role the agency has played in the production and dissemination of Federal Government information, from the Emancipation Proclamation, to the Warren Commission and 9/11 Commission Reports, to the latest in secure passport and smart card technologies. This updated volume includes new engaging mages with authoritative text to showcase the dedication of its employees, past and present, GPO's critical contribution to all federal organizations, Congress, and to the well-being of the American people throughout its history. American citizens of all ages may enjoy this story of traditional publishing and the printing industry transformation to the digital publishing era through the GPO and how they broaden their reach to access Federal Government information by offering print and digital formats to meet the needs of Americans around the globe with mobile technology. This Federal agency, formerly known as the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), was established in 1861. It transitioned to the new agency name, the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO), in December 2013 with the U.S. Congress approval. GPO is the Federal Government's official, digital, secure resource for producing, procuring, cataloging, indexing, authenticating, disseminating, and preserving the official information products of the U.S. Government. The GPO is responsible for the production and distribution of information products and services all three branches of the Federal Government, including U.S. passports for the Department of State as well as the official publications of Congress, the White House, and other Federal agencies in digital and print formats. GPO provides for permanent public access to Federal Government information at no charge through www.govinfo.gov, partnerships with approximately 1,150 libraries nationwide participating in the Federal Depository Library Program, and our secure online bookstore www.bookstore.gpo.gov For more information, please visit www.gpo.gov

For 150 years, U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) has produced the digital documents of democracy crucial to an informed citizenry. Keeping America Informed: the U.S. Government Printing Office, 150 Years of Service to the Nation, published to mark GPO's 150th anniversary as a Federal agency, tells the story of this unique organization through a readable and concise narrative and numerous historic photographs, many of them never before published. This handsome new volume provides a panoramic view of GPO, which opened its doors for business on March 4, 1861, as Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as the 16th president of the United States. After a description of the previous history of “publick printing” and the founding of GPO, Keeping America Informed covers the agency's physical and technological growth in the Gilded Age, its reform during the Progressive Era, and its crucial role in supporting the Government's efforts to grapple with the Great Depression and two world wars. Post-World War II, the book describes GPO's transition from traditional printing to the digital technology of today. It also highlights the hugely significant role the agency has played in the dissemination of federal Government information through its publications sales and Federal depository library programs. Much of the information in Keeping America Informed is new, the product of the latest research into GPO's history. Above all, its authoritative text and unique images depict the enormous contribution of its employees, past and present, to the well-being of the American people and nation.