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The Collation

Filing, seventeenth-century style

When we think of filing today, we think of digital files and folders, and manilla folders, hanging files, and filing cabinets. But what did filing look like in early modern England? How did people deal with all their receipts and bills and letters when they wanted to keep them? What evidence of filing systems still survives?

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How often (if at all) do you come across document boxes from this period lined with on-purpose paper (or whatever the opposite of “waste paper” would be)? It’s well-known among art historians that a number of the earliest printed images survive only because they were purposefully pasted inside boxes, e.g. this print dating to ca. 1500 at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

Erin Blake — March 28, 2013

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The National Archives (Kew) has a handful of deed boxes lined with early modern wallpaper in their SC 16 series. And I saw a deed box at Lincoln’s Inn that has a block print design printed on the back of a printed sheet–decorated “waste paper”? But I’ve seen more examples of boxes lined with early eighteenth century newspaper or printers’ waste.

Heather Wolfe — March 29, 2013

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We’re riveted! MT @wynkenhimself love this post on 17th-century filing systems: holes & string for hanging paper! http://t.co/EP1KDHgaXv

@ArchaeologyLab — March 28, 2013

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I was hooked by this post on C17 filing systems from @FolgerResearch via @rmathematicus http://t.co/IQS3Kol2Fa

@KateMorant — March 28, 2013

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Terrific post from Heather Wolfe on early modern filing: http://t.co/xOctmSh6aS (I love this Gossaert portrait: http://t.co/4braOZMNtP)

@clerestories — March 28, 2013

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Perhaps “flipped” filing was also a measure of privacy: if someone came to your office to speak with you, he wouldn’t then be able to read all the private documents hanging from your walls.

Andrew Pickett — March 29, 2013

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That’s a good point. The blank side of the outermost leaf also serves as a protective cover (and sometimes a label) when the file is removed from the wall and rolled up for long term storage.

Heather Wolfe — March 29, 2013

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Amazing, fascinating, but am still not quite clear how it worked: Filing, seventeenth-century style | The Collation – http://t.co/hJWNoA95Ai

@ctramsey — March 29, 2013

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Great post on #16thcentury & #17thcentury filing systems; reminds me of many archival visits: http://t.co/OYR55uCMWG via @erik_kwakkel

@AlexiBaker — March 30, 2013

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Just what I needed for what I’m writing atm! RT @EMNewsNetworks: interesting blog post on C17th filing systems http://t.co/I1PqpXbnpu

@samklai — April 2, 2013

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Seeing holes everywhere…Filing in the 17th Century. Fascinating read http://t.co/qtyQzsXLiG @FolgerLibrary through @apmmy92

@unmakingthings — April 2, 2013

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Early Modern filing, from that Latin “filum,” for string or wire: http://t.co/EuJBOYUfmm

@DanAShore — April 2, 2013

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“Filing in the 17th Century http://t.co/6TlWSFOLH2 @FolgerLibrary through @apmmy92” insightful abt em info mgt & material cultures

@HistorySara — April 3, 2013

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Excellent blog post on 17th filing – good follow up to the lecture on note taking @RachaelEgan1 @golfwachi @elias_f – http://t.co/Tx3Etd8b6F

@davidjgary — April 3, 2013

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completely fascinating post on filing, seventeenth-century style (stationery geek that I am) http://t.co/7EQ6bN8FJc

@katallen — April 12, 2013

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You also see papers clipped together with a straight pin pushed twice through the corner acting like a staple. And see an example of a lawyer using sacks here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yalelawlibrary/6175728703/. According to Guillaume Des Marez, in his work on the medieval lettres de foire of Ypres, the town aldermen kept records of the contracts made before them in large sacks hung from the ceiling of the cloth hall.

E Kadens — April 21, 2013

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Threads and Strings | text {isle} — April 25, 2013

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I’m very late to this article, but it got me wondering how long such “files” lasted. And sure enough, in Bleak House by Charles Dickens, references are made to “the master upon whose impaling files reams of dusty warrants…have…writhed” and “fresh affidavits have been put upon the file.” They also cart away from the Court of Chancery “a battery of blue bags” full of papers.

Christina Dudley — June 28, 2022

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