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How the File was Invented

Michael Moss

Michael Moss

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Moss, Michael
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David Thomas

David Thomas

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Thomas, David
  
Dec 31, 2019
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Article Category: Towards a History of Files
Published Online: Dec 31, 2019
Page range: 28 - 52
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/adhi-2019-0003
Keywords
© 2020 Michael Moss et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Public License.

Figure 1

An open docket that clearly shows the fold lines. The letter is included at the top the reference number of the previous docket and is stamped by the War Office Registry clerk on receipt. (Source: TNA T1)
An open docket that clearly shows the fold lines. The letter is included at the top the reference number of the previous docket and is stamped by the War Office Registry clerk on receipt. (Source: TNA T1)

Figure 2

A folded docket with the red tape untied, dated 21 September 1832 with a brief description of the content beneath – Secretary at War showing the prime cost of medicines supplied to the Army by Mr Calvert Clarke in 1831. Beneath is the sequential number allotted when the docket was registered, 18151 and note stating that it was read by the Secretary at War on 11 June 1833. The number at the bottom left is where the subsequent docket can be found. (Source: TNA T1)
A folded docket with the red tape untied, dated 21 September 1832 with a brief description of the content beneath – Secretary at War showing the prime cost of medicines supplied to the Army by Mr Calvert Clarke in 1831. Beneath is the sequential number allotted when the docket was registered, 18151 and note stating that it was read by the Secretary at War on 11 June 1833. The number at the bottom left is where the subsequent docket can be found. (Source: TNA T1)

Figure 3

A jacketed docket with the memorandum and minute on the cover sheet and the reference number 1981. The title that refers to the Queen and Lord Rememberancer of Scotland (QLTR) with the subject beneath. The docket number is 1981 and the date is 26 January 1883. (Source: TNA T1)
A jacketed docket with the memorandum and minute on the cover sheet and the reference number 1981. The title that refers to the Queen and Lord Rememberancer of Scotland (QLTR) with the subject beneath. The docket number is 1981 and the date is 26 January 1883. (Source: TNA T1)

Figure 4

The page of the Treasury register, in which dockets relating to the QLTR were registered in a rudimentary file plan, listing date, docket numbers, name, subject and remarks. (Source: TNA T2: Registers of Papers)
The page of the Treasury register, in which dockets relating to the QLTR were registered in a rudimentary file plan, listing date, docket numbers, name, subject and remarks. (Source: TNA T2: Registers of Papers)

Figure 5

The Treasury register listing dockets sequentially with a note of action taken. (Source: TNA T3 Treasury: Skeleton Registers)
The Treasury register listing dockets sequentially with a note of action taken. (Source: TNA T3 Treasury: Skeleton Registers)

Figure 6

The Treasury skeleton register showing where dockets were stored and indicating if they had been amalgamated with other dockets or destroyed. (Source: TNA T3 Treasury: Skeleton Registers)
The Treasury skeleton register showing where dockets were stored and indicating if they had been amalgamated with other dockets or destroyed. (Source: TNA T3 Treasury: Skeleton Registers)

Figure 7

This is the new file cover introduced when the registry was reorganised, which the contents of this file are about. The file number is E 1728 (the E standing for establishment) and the previous file under the old system was 13420, now T1 in TNA. (Source: TNA T1)
This is the new file cover introduced when the registry was reorganised, which the contents of this file are about. The file number is E 1728 (the E standing for establishment) and the previous file under the old system was 13420, now T1 in TNA. (Source: TNA T1)
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