transcripts and minutes of selected Senate committees and party organizations, and conducts oral history interviews with retired senior Senate staff. Leader's Lecture Series Majority Leader Trent Lott initiated the Leader's Lecture Series, providing a forum for outstanding former Senate leaders and other distinguished Americans to share their insights about the recent history and long-term practices of the Senate. Beginning on March 24, 1998, the lectures have been held in the historic Old Senate Chamber before an audience of current Senators and specially invited guests from the executive branch, the diplomatic corps, the media, and private enterprise. The Senate Historical Office, in coordination with the Office of Senate Curator and other offices under the jurisdiction of the Secretary, has provided editorial and production support for the 1998 lectures of former Majority Leaders Mike Mansfield, Howard Baker, and Robert C. Byrd, as well as the January 20, 1999, lecture by former President George Bush. Text of all four lectures is now available on the Senate web site and will soon be published as a book. Editorial Projects A History of the Democratic Policy Committee, 1947-1997: To commemorate the fiftieth anniversaries of the Senate Republican and Democratic Policy Committees, the Historical Office has prepared narrative histories of the committees, their members, their staffs, and their impact on legislation in the U.S. Senate. In 1997 the Government Printing Office published the first of these two volumes, A History of the Senate Republican Policy Committee, 1947-1997 (Senate Document 105-5). Work is nearing completion on the Democratic Policy Committee's companion vol ume. Minutes of the Republican and Democratic Party Conferences, 1903-1964: In 1992 the Senate's party leaders agreed to a recommendation of the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress that the Historical Office preserve, edit, and publish the official minutes of each party conference, dating from the start of the twentieth century to a period thirty years before the present. The Office has now completed work on a volume for each conference. Early in 1999, the Government Printing Office will produce a 700-page volume of Democratic Conference minutes, covering the years 1903 through 1964. A companion volume for Republican Conference minutes spanning 1911 through 1964 will appear later in the year. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-1999: The Office has revised and updated Senate entries in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Since its last print publication in 1989, more than half of the database's 1,851 Senate entries have been revised or updated, and dozens of new entries have been added. Although the next decennial print edition is scheduled for publication in 2000, a current version of the database is now available online at http:// bioguide.congress.gov. Oral History Program The Historical Office opened for scholarly research the transcripts of oral history interviews with Kelly D. Johnston, former Secretary of the Senate and staff director of the Senate Republican Policy Committee. A series of interviews with Charles Ferris, former staff director of the Senate Democratic Policy Committee, were also completed and are being processed. Additional interviews were also conducted, including a series with C. Abbott Saffold, former Senate Democratic Secretary. Member Services "Senate Historical Minutes": At the request of the Senate Democratic Leader, the historian prepared and delivered a "Senate Historical Minute" at each of fifty-six Senate Democratic Conference weekly meetings during the 105th Congress. These 300-word "minutes" are designed to enlighten members about significant events and personalities associated with the Senate's institutional development. Most of the "minutes" were subsequently published the day following delivery in The Hill newspaper. Those prepared in 1997 were assembled during 1998 in a booklet entitled Thirty Minutes of Senate History. These and future "minutes" will be available as a feature on the Senate's redesigned home page. Senators' Office Records Management and Disposition Assistance: The Historical Office assisted members' offices that closed at the end of the 105th Congress with planning for the preservation of their historical records. Briefings included guidance on archiving information from computer systems, assistance with selecting a repository, and identification of which information is appropriate for historical preservation. All offices of retiring members transferred their member's papers to a designated research repository of the member's choice. Special assistance was given to defeated incumbents by assisting staff with identifying an appropriate repository and focusing on the preservation of the core collections. Records Management Handbook for United States Senators and Their Archival Repositories: The Historical Office issued an extensively revised edition of this publication, which features new information on the care and management of electronic records. Educational Outreach Senate Office Building Brochures: Senators, staff, and visitors frequently seek information on the history and functions of the three Senate office buildings. To address this recurring need, the Historical Office produced an illustrated brochure for each structure. Copies will be distributed through each member's office and from a central location within the respective buildings. "This Month In Senate History": Since September 1996, the Office has produced a Senate home page feature entitled "This Month in Senate History." The entries for each month highlight approximately twenty institutionally significant events that have occurred during that month throughout more than 200 years of Senate history. Starting in May 1997, the Office also produced a brochure containing the same information, which is provided to Senate offices for distribution to constituents and other visitors. Senate Home Page Redesign: The Historical Office contributed the following features to the recently redesigned Senate Web page: -A brief history of the U.S. Senate and a chronology of the institution's history. -An introduction to the Office's large photo collection, with information about ordering photos, copyright issues, and resources for researchers. -A description of the ongoing oral history project, with full text and excerpted text from past oral histories available online. --Information on each state and its unique relationship to the Senate. -Statistical tables. -A collection of Senate “briefings" outlining the Senate's role in such duties as nominations, treaties, and impeachments. -A collection of "historical minutes," brief vignettes about Senate history. -Access to the new online version of the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, which includes information from the Guide to Research Collections of Former United States Senators and Senators of the United States: A Historical Bibliography. Photographic Collections The Historical Office continued to expand its 30,000-item photograph collection by creating a photographic record of historically significant Senate events, and by actively seeking photographs of former senators. In addition to maintaining and adding to the Office's image collection, the photo historian provided photographic reference service to the media, congressional offices, academic researchers, and the general public. The Office's newly acquired imaging software allowed the photo historian to digitize a number of items in the collection, a process that will help preserve frequently used photographs by storing them in an easily accessible format. Photographs can now be scanned, viewed in electronic format, and sent via e-mail. OFFICE OF SENATE CURATOR The Office of Senate Curator, under the direction of the Senate Commission on Art, administers the museum programs of the Senate for the Capitol and Senate office buildings. The Curator and staff suggest acquisitions, provide appropriate exhibits, engage in research, and write and edit publications. In addition, the office studies, identifies, arranges, protects, preserves, and records the historical collections of the Senate, including paintings, sculpture, and furnishings; and exercises supervisory responsibility for those chambers in the Capitol under the jurisdiction of the Senate Commission on Art. Exhibitions and Publications The initiative to standardize the design of the Secretary's educational publications moved forward successfully, with a total of 14 brochures printed in the new format. Publications produced by the office included: The Brumidi Corridors, Senate Art in Stamps; and The Vice Presidential Bust Collection. The long awaited Guide to Senate Art progressed considerably. New signage was developed for several rooms, providing visitors with information on these historic spaces, and identification labels were installed for the Vice Presidential Bust Collection. Historic Chambers The Curator's staff continued to maintain the Old Supreme Court and Old Senate Chambers, coordinating periodic use of both rooms for special occasions. The latter chamber was used for three evening lectures as part of Senator Lott's Leader's Lecture Series. Collections: Acquisitions and Management The staff processed 20 loans for the Senate leadership, and continued to loan and monitor the 450 reproduction prints in the Senate collection. The office received and catalogued 13 foreign gifts accepted from various foreign governments; a system for promoting the transfer of these gifts was established, and 11 gifts were transferred to appropriate depositories. The most extensive physical inventory to date of the Senate collection was conducted this year using a computer generated master list of all collection objects created in the SNAP! data base. Conservation and Restoration Several significant paintings and frames received conservation treatment, including Patrick Henry by George Matthews and The Battle of Lake Erie by William H. Powell. Four marble sculptures were substantially restored, and 25 other marble busts were professionally cleaned and conserved. A new maintenance schedule was implemented to improve the long-term care of the sculpture in the Senate collection. Similarly, a training series was initiated to provide the staff of the Sergeant at Arms with information on the care and handling of these works of art. A five-year project to restore the 100 Senate Chamber desks was began this fall, and the first ten desks were restored. Also part of the project, was the modification to install unobtrusive bumpers on the end of each Senate Chamber chair arm to better protect the desks from damage. Collaborations, Educational Programs, Events The staff supported the Senate's seminar program by presenting periodic addresses on various aspects of the Senate's art and history. In a collaborative effort with several offices, the staff participated in the development of a four-part program, titled "Congress & the Capitol: Tour Guide Series," designed for individuals who conduct tours of the Capitol for constituents. Automation The Senate launched a new Virtual Tour of the Capitol at the Senate web site, and the staff contributed substantially to this endeavor. A new interactive kiosk was installed in the Senate wing of the Capitol. Titled "Welcome to the Digital U.S. Capitol," the kiosk provides visitors with pertinent information on their state senator, and the art in the Capitol related to their state. The staff also worked closely with other Senate offices on the redesigned Senate web site. Objectives For 1999 Conservation concerns continue to be a priority, with plans to conserve additional Senate Chamber desks, frescoes, several historic mirrors, five paintings with frames, five sculptures, furniture for the Senate Library, and to begin the first phase of conservation of the Old Supreme Court Chamber furnishings. Two new exhibitions are scheduled, along with additional explanatory pylons for several historic_rooms. Progress will continue on the Guide to Senate Art. Work will proceed on the comprehensive disaster preparedness, response, and recovery plan for the Senate collection. A collections management and care policy will be developed, and a training manual produced. The office will complete a comprehensive strategic plan for the Senate Commission on Art, and a Senate Preservation Task Force will be established to develop long-term preservation and interpretive policies for the Capitol. Projects will be developed for the year 2000 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the first meeting of Congress in the Capitol. SENATE PAGE SCHOOL The United States Senate Page School exists to provide a smooth transition from and to the students' home schools, providing those students with as sound a program, both academically and experientially, as possible during their stay in the nation's capital, within the limits of the constraints imposed by the work situation. Summary of accomplishments The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools granted the Page School accreditation for the next ten years. Staff attended a number of staff development workshops including computer classes, Advanced Placement training, subject matter specific seminars, and a lead ership conference. Foreign language tutoring was provided to students in French, Spanish, German, Latin, and Russian. Staff provided a PSAT preparation course for Pages. New, more sturdy computer work tables were provided. During the Senate recess, school hours were expanded and many field trips were taken to extend the educational experience of Pages. A trip to Philadelphia included visits to Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Local trips included the National Archives and Mount Vernon. Many speakers were added to the schedule, including the Senate Parliamentarian, the Senate Historian, the Senate Curator, and the Senate Librarian. Much of the history and legislative process of the Senate was shared with the Pages. Theater outings were also arranged to CATS, Barrymore, and The Nutcracker. New equipment included a CD player and a LCD projector. A new textbook, Problem Solving Strategies, was purchased for math students to use. Software to be used in Chemistry and Physics, the Calculator Based Laboratory for data acquisition and analysis, was purchased. The closing ceremony for first semester Pages took place on January 22, 1999. New Pages arrived on January 25, 1999. Summary of plans Needs of the incoming Pages are assessed immediately and a schedule devised to meet their needs. Foreign language tutors are obtained and field trips are planned as time allows. Attention will continue to be given to the suggestions in the accreditation report of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Advanced Placement training for all staff who have not previously received it will be provided as recommended. Staff development opportunities will continue to be utilized, particularly in content areas. All courses will be reviewed for curriculum improvement purposes and materials used will be reviewed as well. Software will be investigated as a means by which curriculum delivery can be enhanced. INFORMATION SYSTEMS The staff of the Department of Information Systems provides technical hardware and software support for the Office of the Secretary of the Senate. Information Systems staff also interface closely with the Government Printing Office (GPO), the Senate Computer Center (SCC), and the Senate Office of Telecommunications (Telecom) on technical issues and joint projects. The Department provides computer related support for the nineteen LAN-based servers in the Office of the Secretary of the Senate (three Novell Servers; sixteen Windows NT Servers; a proprietary retail computer system in the Stationery Room). Mission Evaluation The primary mission of Information Systems Department is to continue to provide a high sustained level of customer satisfaction and computer support of all departments with the Secretary of the Senate. Emphasis is placed on the creation and transfer of legislation to outside departments and agencies. In May and June of 1998, department interviews, and goals were assessed, hardware and software applications were analyzed, and Year 2000 hardware evaluations initiated. Improvements to the Secretary's LAN's The Senate had chosen Windows NT as the standard network operating system in 1997. The immediate support strategy in May of 1998 was to enhance existing hardware and software support within the Information Systems Department, and augment support from the Sergeant at Arms whenever required. The following chart notes the installation of nine additional servers in 1998. The Office of the Secretary Network encompasses approximately 380 users in the Capitol, the Senate Hart and Dirksen Buildings, and the Page School. The LAN operating system is 84 percent Microsoft based and 16 percent Novell based server software. 1NT/PDC Primary Domain Controllers. Systems Installed in 1998. Support staff of the Sergeant at Arms and the Secretary continue to work closely together to support the current LEGIS system, and take an a more active role in the current LIS project. In September of 1998, the Amendment Tracking application was removed from the Secretary's NT Primary Domain Controller. A separate Windows NT Server was added to the Secretary's LAN, the hardware and software was configured by Secretary staff members, and working with SAA support personnel, an updated version of Amendment Tracking software was installed in August 1998. Several additional resources were made available for use by the Secretary staff; laptop computers for remote dial-in access to the Secretary's LAN, access software to manage NT servers remotely, and laptop upgrades for the Legislative and Bill clerk to utilize on the chamber floor. Several departments have had repetitive tasks automated using the macro scripting language in Word Perfect. For the most part, these macros are in place to simplify the Windows95 operating system. These macros were designed to copy and transfer files from one folder to another. These scripts can be replaced by providing staff members with a additional training in Windows95. Several Departments, namely Disbursing, Office of Public Records, Chief Counsel for Employment, Page School, Senate Library, Senate Security, and Stationery/Gift Shop have dedicated systems administrators and NT servers installed. In most cases, the separate systems hold unique applications, and isolated LAN's are set up for security reasons. Information Systems continues to provide hardware and software support for these department as required and assist in project upgrades. Disaster Preparedness Plans were established to protect software media in 1998. Information Systems now utilizes a fire proof safe to properly secure and store software media. Captioning Services (ST-54) The Official Reporters and Captioning services departments utilize a separate Novell server. They use specialized software called Computer Aided Transcription (CAT) for translating their steno code into English. In June of 1998, beta software was evaluated as a possible replacement for the older Xscribe CAT software. Also in 1998, the Compaq DOS based clients were dual-configured with Windows95, verified as Y2K compliant and in July 1998 the internal clocks moved forward to the Year 2000. Closed caption information was then sent to the Senate Recording Studio. While the current operation is qualified as Y2K compliant, there are several minor constraints, namely file naming conventions that must be used in 2000. New hardware and software will be installed in 1999 as soon as replacement software is available. Official Reporters of debates (ST-41/44) The Reporters and Captioning personnel utilize the same caption software, with the exception that Captioning Services sends encoded output to the Senate Recording Studio, and Reporters send WordPerfect files to the Government Printing Office. GPO Detailees add at the final stage, added code for MicroComp formats prior to transferring the files to GPO. The Reporters are the only office currently who do not run Windows95 environments. In March 1999, the Reporter software is being upgraded to allow a dual-boot operation between Xscribe and normal Win95 applications. This operation has been tested previously in Captioning Services. The Senate Gift Shop LAN (in two separate locations) At the request of GAO, for security reasons, the Gift Shop LAN and the Stationery LAN must be isolated from each other and neither connected to the Secretary's LAN. The Gift Shop LAN houses the inventory and transaction records for the Gift Shop. In August of 1998, an NT Server was installed by Info systems staff as a Primary Domain controller. Working with Telecom, SAA, and Stationery staff and consultants, the necessary fault-tolerant components were installed, and networking requirements identified to replace the current MAI mainframe. In Decem |