An official website of the United States government
Here’s how you know
Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government
organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
secure websites.
From Lighthouses to Laserbeams: A History of the U.S. Department of Commerce (1988)
Organization and Law of the Department of Commerce (1904)
The Department of Commerce was originally created as the US Department of Commerce and Labor on February 14, 1903. It was subsequently renamed the Department of Commerce on March 4, 1913, as the bureaus and agencies specializing in labor were transferred to the new Department of Labor. As the Federal government grew and evolved, other bureaus were transferred to and from the Commerce Department, giving it a rich history and unique role in the Cabinet.
One of the best resources for an overview of the department's history is From Lighthouses to Laserbeams: A History of the US Department of Commerce (1988), available through the library in both print and digital formats.
1401 Constitution Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20230
Email: research@doc.gov
Monday to Friday
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Closed on Federal Holidays
General Public - by appointment only
library.doc.gov
An official website of the U.S. Department of Commerce