{"id":2869,"date":"2016-03-25T11:35:03","date_gmt":"2016-03-25T16:35:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/apps.lib.ua.edu\/blogs\/coolathoole\/?p=2869"},"modified":"2016-03-25T11:35:03","modified_gmt":"2016-03-25T16:35:03","slug":"what-the-heck-is-a-vertical-file","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/apps.lib.ua.edu\/blogs\/coolathoole\/2016\/03\/25\/what-the-heck-is-a-vertical-file\/","title":{"rendered":"What the Heck Is a Vertical File?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What the heck is a Vertical File?<\/em> This is a question I had when I began working in archives. We have three\u00a0such large archival collections here at Hoole — University of Alabama\u00a0Pamphlet\u00a0Files,\u00a0Alabama Vertical Files<\/a>, and\u00a0Rare Vertical Files<\/a> — and I knew they were home to a variety of strange and wonderful things. But what is a vertical file, exactly, and why do things end up there?<\/p>\n

A vertical file<\/em> is a type of artificial collection, which means it was pulled together by archivists from among an archive’s holdings,\u00a0rather than donated as a group.\u00a0According to the Society of American Archivists glossary, these are “materials, often of an ephemeral nature, collected and arranged for ready reference” (source<\/a>). The key word there is “ephemeral.”<\/p>\n

In archives, ephemera\u00a0<\/em>are “materials, usually printed documents, created for a specific, limited purpose, and generally designed to be discarded after use” (source<\/a>). Basically, these are items that may be interesting or helpful or just really cool — and therefore of lasting value\u00a0–but were perhaps never meant to hang around as long as they have. A vertical file collection usually thrives on these kinds of items.<\/p>\n

So these are things worth saving and providing access to that are maybe not substantial enough to warrant creating a whole collection around them. Think of it as the archives catchall.\u00a0Our wonderful\u00a0catchall collections occupy 150\u00a0boxes and take up\u00a052.5\u00a0linear feet on the shelves.\u00a0Let’s take a look at what kinds of things you’ll find in each, with a few examples<\/p>\n

UA Pamphlet Files<\/h2>\n

This is an\u00a0eclectic gathering of documents, loosely organized by subject. Much of the content is\u00a0fliers, programs, and speech texts related to campus events or campus\u00a0organizations’ activities. In addition, many items come from\u00a0the Alumni Association, and from various academic units of the University.<\/p>\n