The Daily Inside 'The Morgue' at The New York Times
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Nov 30, 2025 
Join Jeff Roth, the dedicated archivist at The New York Times, as he takes you on a fascinating journey through the newspaper's extensive morgue, housing clippings and photos dating back to the 1800s. Discover the serendipitous finds that inspire reporters and learn about the archive's quirky filing system. Jeff shares his passion for preserving history, recounts the evolution of archival practices, and reflects on how the Internet has transformed the usage of this treasure trove. It's a captivating glimpse into the heart of journalism's past.
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Morgue's Serendipity Powers Reporting
- The morgue stores millions of clippings, photos, books and memorabilia dating back to the 1800s.
- Its value lies in serendipity: reporters find unexpected context or forgotten facts that enrich stories.
Rare Rag Editions Survive In Boxes
- The morgue's boxes include rare rag editions printed on fine linen-like paper dating to the 1950s.
- Some clipped items never made later editions and remain discoverable only in the physical archive.
Cataloging Keeps Institutional Memory
- The morgue's organized system began in the early 1900s with alphabetical biographical and subject folders.
- It preserves institutional memory like advance obituaries and rare first-edition clips reporters can't find online.