Tulsa Area History
What are Vertical Files?
Vertical files are files that are a compilation of different subjects. Many libraries, schools, and universities have these and they can cover numerous subjects. These files contain newspaper articles, photographs, pamphlets, maps, and many other materials. Vertical files were kind of the Internet before there was an Internet – a place to store information and resources not found in books.
The vertical files in the Research Center at the Central Library house hundreds of subjects pertaining to Tulsa and Oklahoma history. The physical articles contained within these files consist of newspaper clippings, pamphlets, booklets, maps, local publications, and other materials we’ve been saving and compiling over the years. It’s a treasure trove of amazing information that has been collected over the years and sometimes cannot be found anywhere else. These files contain a significant depth and breadth of local knowledge.