The New Hampshire House of Representatives is larger but only serves part-time.[3] The Hall of the House contains important symbols of Pennsylvania history and the work of legislators.The speakership is the oldest elected statewide office in the Commonwealth.Since its first session in 1682—presided over by William Penn—over 130 house members have been elevated to the speaker's chair.Speaker Leroy Irvis was the first African American elected speaker of any state legislature in the United States since Reconstruction.