HPR 412 Chapter 6: HPR Robertson "Learning To File_ Reconfiguring Information and Information Work in the Early Twentieth Century."
Document Summary
Introduction of vertical filing in the 20th century. The act of placing papers, cards, books, or other material in systematic arrangement so that they may be found instantly when wanted - finding a profession instead of a job. Filing of business information required special training. Explores what filing as information work can tell us about the modern reconfiguring of. Information as something that could be standardized, atomized, and stripped of context; a conception of information critical to the articulation of information work. (p 957) The move to store loose paper in folders rather than bound in books enhanced how paper articulated information as a unit. In comparison to a bound volume, a single sheet of paper offered less content and more flexibility, which led to promises of increased exactness and ease of access to information. (p 958) Filing is a profession for women: filing is the handling of many things: cards, folders, guides, files, etc.
