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Longtime Doorkeeper Joseph Sinnott minds the grand maple veneered–doors to the House Chamber, one of the position’s many duties. From 1789 until 1995, the House Doorkeeper was elected on the opening day of each Congress, and filled the duty of controlling access to the House Chamber, overseeing the Press Gallery and Pages, among others. Sinnott himself was a familiar figure around the Capitol. He spent nearly 60 years as a congressional employee, including 23 as Doorkeeper.
History, Art & Archives, U.S. House of Representatives, “Opening the Doors of Congress,” https://history.house.gov/Collection/Listing/PA2014/PA2014-07-0013/ (June 29, 2022)
Office of the Historian
Office of Art and Archives
Attic, Thomas Jefferson Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 226-1300
