In Washington, D.C., the second session of the Forty-fifth Congress of the United States takes its usual holiday recess until the new year. The session will resume on January 11, 1878. (By John Osborne)

In Washington, D.C., the second session of the Forty-fifth Congress of the United States is in its usual holiday recess until the new year. The session will resume on January 11, 1878. (By John Osborne)

In Washington, D.C., Speaker Randall brings the first session of the Forty-fifth Congress of the United States to an end. The session has sat for 50 days. Later in the day, Randall gavels the second session to order. This second session will sit for twelve days until the start of its sixteen day holiday recess and then, on its return on January 11, 1878, sit until June 20, 1878. (By John Osborne)

The first session of the Forty-fifth Congress of the United States is sitting in Washington, D.C. Samuel J. Randall, Democrat of Pennsylvania, is in the Speaker's chair. The session will sit for 50 days and last until December 3, 1877. (By John Osborne)

The Forty-fifth Congress of the United States opens in Washington, D.C. Of the 293 representatives who will sit in the House, 155 are Democrats, and 136 are Republicans. Two others sit as Independent Democrats. On this opening day, Samuel J. Randall, Democrat of Pennsylvania and Speaker in the previous Congress, is once again elected Speaker of the House. (By John Osborne)

In Washington, D.C., the third "lame duck" session of the Forty-sixth Congress of the United States begins its holiday recess. It will return on January 6, 1881. (By John Osborne)

In Washington, D.C., Speaker Samuel J. Randall of Pennsylvania opens the third "lame duck" session of the Forty-sixth Congress of the United States. The session will sit for a little over two weeks before it begins its holiday recess on December 23, 1880. (By John Osborne)

In Washington, D.C., Speaker Samuel J. Randall of Pennsylvania brings down the gavel on the second session of the Forty-sixth Congress of the United States. Congress will reassemble for its third "lame duck" session on December 6, 1880. (By John Osborne)

In Washington, D.C., the second session of the Forty-sixth Congress of the United States is sitting. With Speaker Samuel J. Randall of Pennsylvania in the chair, the session will last until June 16, 1880. (By John Osborne)