The New York Botanical Garden Vertical Files

This guide features an organized list of vertical files available, upon request, to researchers. The file names are listed exactly as how they appear within our collection and are organized alphabetically. For more information, please contact the reference desk.

Each file in this collection relates to the history of the New York Botanical Garden, from its founding up until the present day. Whether you are interested in the history of the Garden, the Bronx, or New York City as a whole, a vertical file could be a great place to start.

What is a Vertical File?

Vertical files are an accumulation of items (photos, articles, correspondences, etc.) related to a specific subject. Researchers can use these files to further direct and enrich their research. If you're studying history of a specific NYBG living collection, you've probably used a library vertical file.  If you haven't, you should! Vertical Files are bring together photographs, newspaper articles, magazine clippings, brochures and other related ephemera in one folder, providing an overview of a given subject through various sources. Citing vertical files can be difficult, so guidelines can be found here.