A vertical file (sometimes referred to as a clippings file or pamphlet file) is a collection of material, such as correspondence, news clippings, booklets, maps, pictures, pamphlets, tourism brochures, or other grey literature, created and maintained by businesses, libraries and other organizations. The materials are typically loose, separate pieces filed on edge and organized in folders often with tabs or guides and arranged most often alphabetically by subject. Vertical files are used as ready reference material to supplement other collections on topics not easily covered by conventional material such as books.[1] The name comes from the fact that these collections are often stored in the vertical style of filing cabinets (as opposed to the lateral).
Prior to the advent of vertical filing, correspondence was often filed in pigeonhole files, spike or spindle files, box files, bellows files, and flat files.[2][3] The first vertical file was made in 1892 and shown in 1893, at the Chicago World's Fair by the Library Bureau.[4]
Vertical files have been manufactured since at least the early 1900s,[5] however, their use and maintenance have waned in recent years due to the availability of information on the web.[6]
The vertical file is related to the picture file, which is a collection of similar nature except that the contents are primarily images.
References
- ^ Gould, Geraldine N.; Wolfe, Ithmer C. (1968). How to Organize and Maintain the Library Picture / Pamphlet File. Dobbs Ferry, New York: Oceana Publications, Inc.
- ^ Progressive Indexing and Filing (5th ed.). New York: Remington Rand, Inc. 1950. p. 39. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
- ^ Cadwallader, Laura Hanes; Rice, Sarah Ada (1932). Principles of Indexing and Filing (1st ed.). Baltimore; Chicato: H.M. Rowe Company. pp. 69–73. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
- ^ Progressive Indexing and Filing (5th ed.). New York: Remington Rand, Inc. 1950. p. 39. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
- ^ Roberts, Kate Louise (1907). "Vertical File". Public Libraries. 12 (1). Library Bureau: 316–317. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
- ^ Dalrymple, Tam (1 December 2008). ""Just-in-Case" Answers: The Twenty-FirstCentury Vertical File". Information Technology and Libraries. 27 (4): 25–28. doi:10.6017/ital.v27i4.3239. ISSN 2163-5226. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
Further reading
- Vertical File Index; a subject and title index to selected pamphlet material. est. 1932. monthly (Sept-July, with annual cumulations). published by H.W. Wilson Co. ISSN 0042-4439
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