The Filing Cabinet
A Vertical History of Information
Book • 2021
In this book, Craig Robertson explores the profound impact of the filing cabinet on information technology and work practices.
Invented in the 1890s, the filing cabinet revolutionized the storage and circulation of documents by organizing loose papers in tabbed folders that could be sorted alphanumerically.
Robertson's history highlights how the filing cabinet contributed to a new type of information labor, privileged manual dexterity over mental deliberation, and was influenced by gendered assumptions about women's roles in the workforce.
The book also examines how the filing cabinet continues to shape our interaction with information in the digital age.
Invented in the 1890s, the filing cabinet revolutionized the storage and circulation of documents by organizing loose papers in tabbed folders that could be sorted alphanumerically.
Robertson's history highlights how the filing cabinet contributed to a new type of information labor, privileged manual dexterity over mental deliberation, and was influenced by gendered assumptions about women's roles in the workforce.
The book also examines how the filing cabinet continues to shape our interaction with information in the digital age.
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Mentioned by Craig Robertson as the subject of his book, exploring its history and impact on information management.
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