Public Printer of the United States


The Public Printer of the United States was the head of the United States Government Publishing Office. Pursuant to, this officer was nominated by the President of the United States and approved by the United States Senate. In December 2014, Congress passed and President Obama signed into law H.R. 83, which consolidated and continued appropriations for FY 2015. Section 1301 of that act changed the name of the Government Printing Office to the Government Publishing Office and the title of Public Printer to Director. Thus, Davita Vance-Cooks was the last Public Printer of the United States and the first Director of the U.S. Government Publishing Office.
The Public Printer is responsible for the administration of the GPO. The GPO, a legislative agency of the government, provides electronic access to and produces most printed matter for government, including the Congressional Record, Supreme Court decisions, passports, tax forms, internal government documents, and agency publications. The GPO does not print money, as that is a duty of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

History

served as Public Printer for several of the American colonies prior to the establishment of the United States. The House and Senate had separate printers until 1861, when the GPO was established; its first superintendent was John D. Defrees. The first man with the title Public Printer of the United States was Almon M. Clapp.

List of Public Printers

  1. Almon M. Clapp
  2. John D. Defrees
  3. Sterling P. Rounds
  4. Thomas E. Benedict
  5. Francis W. Palmer
  6. Thomas E. Benedict
  7. Francis W. Palmer
  8. Charles A. Stillings
  9. John S. Leech
  10. Samuel B. Donnelly
  11. Cornelius Ford
  12. George H. Carter
  13. Augustus E. Giegengack
  14. John J. Deviny
  15. Raymond Blattenberger
  16. James L. Harrison
  17. Adolphus N. Spence
  18. Thomas F. McCormick
  19. John J. Boyle
  20. Danford L. Sawyer, Jr.
  21. Ralph E. Kennickell, Jr.
  22. Robert Houk
  23. Michael F. DiMario
  24. Bruce James
  25. Robert C. Tapella -2010
  26. William J. Boarman
  27. Davita E. Vance-Cooks
  28. Hugh N. Halpern