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Our Vertical Files

Date:
By Ms Christine Christine Harris
Category: Library

Am I the only person who didn’t know that the files that hang in a filing cabinet are called “Vertical Files”?  Just one of the things I have learned while browsing through our Library collections at May Street.  More importantly, I’ve actually found out what treasures can be un-earthed in the Vertical Files.  The two filing cabinets in Unit 4 bulge with file folders of materials that are too odd to go on the shelves – too oddly sized, too oddly shaped, too oddly presented.  There are many many topics to be found in the cabinets, but just to give you a tantalizing glimpse, I’ve chosen to look at the content of some of the folders relating to York, Western Australia. 2379757

There's a motley assortment of handwritten transcriptions of births, deaths, marriages, and who knows what.  Some of these have no headings and no attribution so we can’t tell you who did the work, or when, or even, in some cases, the original source.  And some of them are starting to fade, have stains from coffee cups, or are looking a little blotchy.  There are also typed transcriptions - easier to read, but no less obscure.  There are notes on loose sheets torn out of notebooks.  And there are the more formal pamphlets and brochures that have been collected over time.

Put together they make up a fascinating archive that begs for your time and loving attention. And every file is included in our library Catalogue, so get hunting.

 

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