Records of U.S. Senate Special Committees
The Center for Legislative Archives has records of the Senate special committees listed below. Special committees are appointed to perform a special function that is beyond the authority or capacity of a standing committee, and are investigative in nature rather than legislative. For an overview of Senate records, please see the Guide to the Records of the U.S. Senate, 1789-1989, which discusses the jurisdiction, history, and records created by each committee during the period.
Each committee's link will take you to its organization authority record in the National Archives' Catalog, which provides more information. To view descriptions of the committee's records, click on the link(s) under "Role(s)" in the organization authority record.
Most of the Center's records are located at the National Archives building in Washington, DC. Detailed contact information can be found at the bottom of each description record in the Catalog.
Please contact the Center by phone at (202) 357-5350 or by email at legislative.archives@nara.gov if the committee you are looking for is not included in this list.
Special Committee on Aging (1961- )
Special Committee on Atomic Energy (1945-1946)
Also known as McMahon Committee
Special Committee on Contribution Investigation (1956-1956)
Special Committee to Investigate the Administration of the Virgin Islands (1935-1936)
Special Committee to Investigate Air-Mail and Ocean-Mail Contracts (1933-1936)
Special Committee to Investigate Campaign Expenditures (1942-1943)
Special Committee to Investigate Campaign Expenditures (1944-1945)
Special Committee to Investigate Conditions in the American Merchant Marine (1938-1942)
Special Committee to Investigate Gasoline and Fuel Oil Shortages (1941-1944)
Special Committee to Investigate Lobbying Activities (1935-1940)
Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program (1941-1948)
Also known as Truman Committee
Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce (1950-1951)
Also known as Kefauver Committee
Special Committee to Investigate Petroleum Resources (1944-1947)
Special Committee to Investigate Senatorial Campaign Expenditures (1946-1947)
Special Committee to Investigate Unemployment and Relief (1937-1941)
Special Committee Investigating the Munitions Industry (1934-1936)
Also known as Nye Committee
Special Committee on Investigation of Cover on Mail of Senators (1954-1954)
Special Committee on National Emergencies and Delegated Emergency Powers (1974-1976)
Also includes Special Committee on the Termination of the National Emergency (1972-1974)
Special Committee on Reconstruction of Senate Roof and Skylights (1945-1951)
Special Committee to Study Foreign Aid Program (1956-1957)
Special Committee on the Taxation of Governmental Securities and Salaries (1938-1940)