| Samuel Allyne Otis | 17890408_18140422Apr 8, 1789–Apr 22, 1814 | The Senate elected Otis as secretary on April 8, 1789, just two days after achieving its first quorum. Otis began immediately to function officially in the office without having taken any oath, but the instance is unique and explained by the fact that at the time there was no oath to administer. The "Act to Regulate the Time and Manner of Administering Certain Oaths" was not signed into law until June 1, 1789 (1 Stat. 23). This law prescribed that the secretary of the Senate take the same oath supporting the Constitution as senators, representatives, and other officers of the Congress. Otis took his oath on June 3, 1789 (Senate Journal, Volume 1, p. 31), and served until his death on April 22, 1814, just four days after the end of the second session of the 13th Congress. When the Senate convened a third session of the 13th Congress on September 19, 1814, it swore into office Chief Clerk Samuel Turner, Jr., as acting secretary. Turner served until Charles Cutts took office the following month. |
| Charles Cutts | 18141012_18251212Oct 12, 1814–Dec 12, 1825 | – |
| Walter Lowrie | 18251212_18361205Dec 12, 1825–Dec 5, 1836 | – |
| Asbury Dickins | 18361213_18610715Dec 13, 1836–Jul 15, 1861 | – |
| John W. Forney | 18610715_18680604Jul 15, 1861–Jun 4, 1868 | – |
| George C. Gorham | 18680606_18790324Jun 6, 1868–Mar 24, 1879 | – |
| John C. Burch | 18790324_18810728Mar 24, 1879–Jul 28, 1881 | Francis E. Shober (October 25, 1881 to December 18, 1883) was elected Acting Secretary during a special session of the Senate in October 1881. He no doubt would have been relieved of his duties the following December when the 47th Congress convened, but for a quirk of fate, the party lines of that Congress were equally split, 37 Democrats to 37 Republicans. The Senate could not settle on a Secretary, and Shober continued in office for two more years until the 48th Congress, dominated by Republicans, elected a new Secretary. |
| Anson G. McCook | 18831218_18930807Dec 18, 1883–Aug 7, 1893 | – |
| William Ruffin Cox | 18930807_19000131Aug 7, 1893–Jan 31, 1900 | – |
| Charles G. Bennett | 19000201_19130313Feb 1, 1900–Mar 13, 1913 | – |
| James M. Baker | 19130313_19130519Mar 13, 1913–May 19, 1919 | – |
| George A. Sanderson | 19190519_19250424May 19, 1919–Apr 24, 1925 | – |
| Edwin Pope Thayer | 19251207_19330309Dec 7, 1925–Mar 9, 1933 | – |
| Edwin A. Halsey | 19330309_19450129Mar 9, 1933–Jan 29, 1945 | – |
| Leslie Biffle | 19450208_19470104Feb 8, 1945–Jan 4, 1947 | Leslie Biffle (January 29, 1945 to February 8, 1945) was first elected Acting Secretary after Halsey's death, and then–about a week later–was chosen Secretary by a subsequent resolution of the Senate. |
| Carl A. Loeffler | 19450208_19470104Jan 4, 1947 –Jan 3, 1949 | – |
| Leslie Biffle | 19490103_19530103Jan 3, 1949 – Jan 3, 1953 | Biffle is the only person to be elected Secretary of the Senate for two non–consecutive terms. |
| J. Mark Trice | 19530103_19550105Jan 3, 1953–Jan 5, 1955 | – |
| Felton M. Johnston | 19550105_19651230Jan 5, 1955–Dec 30, 1965 | – |
| Emery L. Frazier | 19660101_19660930Jan 1, 1966–Sept 30, 1966 | Frazier was elected on August 20, 1965 by a resolution of the Senate which specified that his term commence on January 1, 1966 and terminate on September 30, 1966 (Senate Resolution 140, 89th Congress, 1st session). In order that there be no break in the continuity of the occupancy of the office, Frazier was sworn in on October 22, 1965 (the day before Congress adjourned) even though his period of service was not to start until January 1, 1966 (Senate Journal, Volume 174, page 955). If this step had not been taken, Frazier could not have begun to function officially until Congress reconvened on January 10, 1966. The termination date of September 30, 1966 was specified in the resolution at Mr. Frazier's insistence because of his desire to retire as soon after his 70th birthday (September 24, 1966) as practicable. |
| Francis R. Valeo | 19661001_19770331Oct 1, 1966–Mar 31, 1977 | Valeo was elected on August 20, 1965 by a resolution of the Senate which specified that his term commence on October 1, 1966 (Senate Resolution 140, 89th Congress, 1st session). He was sworn in on September 30, 1966. |
| J. Stanley Kimmitt | 19770401_19810104Apr 1, 1977–Jan 4, 1981 | The elections of Frazier, Valeo, and Kimmitt are three instances where the election of the Secretary did not mark the end of the incumbent's term of service. That is –– Felton Johnston continued in office for over four months after Frazier's election, Valeo's election took place before Frazier even began his service, and Valeo served three months after Kimmitt's election. |
| William F. Hildenbrand | 19810105_19850102Jan 5, 1981–Jan 2, 1985 | – |
| Jo–Anne L. Coe | 19850103_19870106Jan 3, 1985–Jan 6, 1987 | Coe was the first woman to serve as Secretary of the Senate. |
| Walter J. Stewart | 19870106_19940415Jan 6, 1987–Apr 15, 1994 | – |
| Martha S. Pope | 19940415_19950103Apr 15, 1994–Jan 3, 1995 | – |
| Sheila P. Burke | 19950104_19950607Jan 4, 1995–Jun 7, 1995 | – |
| Kelly D. Johnston | 19950608_19960930Jun 8, 1995–Sept 30, 1996 | – |
| Gary Lee Sisco | 19961001_20010711Oct 1, 1996–Jul 11, 2001 | – |
| Jeri Thomson | 20010712_20030106Jul 12, 2001–Jan 6, 2003 | – |
| Emily J. Reynolds | 20030107_20070104Jan 7, 2003–Jan 4, 2007 | – |
| Nancy Erickson | 20070104_20150106Jan 4, 2007–Jan 6, 2015 | – |
| Julie E. Adams | 20150106Jan 6, 2015–Mar 1, 2021 | – |
| Sonceria Ann Berry | 20210301Mar 1, 2021–present | – |
