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This Week in House History
The House historical highlights featured in This Week in House History are maintained by the Office of the Clerk's Office of Art and Archives. New highlights are added weekly. The collection, searchable by date or subject, includes more than 400 historical House events.
President Woodrow Wilson’s Joint Session regarding the Central Powers’ response to his Fourteen Points peace plan
February 11, 1918
On this date, President Woodrow Wilson addressed a Joint Session of Congress in the House Chamber regarding the Central Powers’ response to his outline of the Fourteen Points peace plan (which Wilson had delivered to Congress a month earlier).
The first African American to speak in the House Chamber
February 12, 1865
On this date, Preacher Henry Highland Garnet became the first African American to speak in the House Chamber when he addressed a crowd of worshippers.
Representative Robert De Large of South Carolina
February 14, 1874
Representative Robert De Large of South Carolina—one of nearly two dozen African Americans to serve in Congress during the Reconstruction Era—died on this date.
A historic trio of women Members
February 15, 1923
On this date, Representatives Alice Robertson of Oklahoma, Mae Nolan of California, and Winnifred Mason Huck of Illinois posed on the front steps of the House entrance of the U.S. Capitol.