Mastodawn

Filing Index Cards with a C-Line Document Sorter

Not surprisingly, I don't always file away my index cards as quickly as I probably ought to. Every now and then I go through my deck of unfiled cards and try to sort them into my card index/zettelkasten. The end of the year seems like a pretty good time to clear the decks. Because I haven't documented some of this portion of my process before, I thought I'd take a few photos of my C-Line document sorter which I use to do a fast sort of cards before filing into my card index. I bought it a […]

https://boffosocko.com/2025/12/27/filing-index-cards-with-a-c-line-document-sorter/

Chris Aldrich Nov 18

Watching people online chat, ask questions, and generally get excited about their planners for 2026, I thought I would spend a few minutes to set up my Memindex-inspired planner version using 4 x 6″ index cards and tabbed dividers. It’s amazing how useful a $2.50 block of 500 index cards can be for planning out your coming year.

Interestingly, I’ve recently come across versions of this same sort of tickler file recommended in mid-20th century textbooks for filing and indexing in business contexts:

Cadwallader, Laura Hanes, and Sarah Ada Rice. 1932. Principles of Indexing and Filing. Baltimore; Chicago: H.M. Rowe Company. page 134: https://archive.org/details/principlesofinde0000laur/page/134/mode/2up

Kahn, Gilbert, Theo Yerian, and Jeffrey R. Stewart, Jr. 1962. Progressive Filing and Records Management. 1st ed. New York: Gregg Publishing Division, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc. page 190: https://archive.org/details/progressivefilin0000gilb/page/190/mode/2up

The careful observer will notice that both of the photos in texts by different authors nearly 30 years apart are the same! I would suspect that they’re from a manufacturer’s catalog (Remington Rand) earlier in the century. It’s even more interesting that one can still quickly create such a set up with commercially available analog office supplies now.

Chris Aldrich Nov 7

Liked @gloriasteinem • Instagram photo by Gloria Steinem (Instagram)

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A post shared by Gloria Steinem (@gloriasteinem)

There’s so much interesting to like in this post, but of particular interest to me is Gloria Steinem’s use of Wilson’s Memindex as her diary/to do list in 1960! Special thanks to my new friend Julian O’Shea who tipped me off to this little bit of history.

Gloria Steinem on Instagram: "I’ve been voting for a long time, as you can see by my 1960 datebook! A lot has changed and there is still a lot more progress to be made, but campaigns like Zohran Mamdani’s give me hope. Like a tree and like movements, his campaign has grown from the ground up. In my experience, top-down politics has never worked in the long run. New York is the most diverse city on earth and his campaign has harnessed that diversity. He makes me proud to be a New Yorker and a voter! Early voting is open now in New York City and Election Day is November 4th."

In a city as diverse as New York, voting for change requires a grassroots approach. Zohran Mamdani's campaign is a testament to the power of community-driven politics. By harnessing the city's diversity, his campaign has grown from the ground up, giving hope for a better future. As a voter, it's time to make your voice heard in the 2024 elections.

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Chris Aldrich Aug 14, 2024

I’m now a full two years into using my variation of the Memindex/Bullet Journal on index cards and starting a third. I still find 4 x 6 inch index cards more freeing and flexible than using the more common notebook format. One big difference since a year ago: I’ve moved into using a significantly bigger box for increased storage which also includes lots of space for project notes, my zettelkasten / commonplace book practice, and an index for all of it.

I sometimes use one of the four typewriters behind my desk for logging. (Another benefit of using cards.) I put in a new card in the morning and add/cross out as I go throughout the day. I often use one of the other typewriters to write out slightly longer mini-diary entries about particular things as I go. This helps me get away from computer screens, even if it’s only for short breaks throughout the day.

Happy to answer any questions people have about the practice. (Prior AMA here.)

The Memindex Method: an early precursor of the Memex, Hipster PDA, 43 Folders, GTD, BaSB, and Bullet Journal systems

That productivity system you're using isn't nearly as new as you think it is.

BoffoSocko.com

Chris Aldrich Dec 26, 2023

Continuing on with my bullet journal-like Memindex practice using 4 x 6 inch index cards for 2024. Happy to continue answering questions about it for the curious.

#AMA #bulletJournal #cardIndexForProductivity #Memindex #productivity

https://boffosocko.com/2023/12/26/memindex-set-up-for-2024/

A year of Bullet Journaling on Index Cards inspired by the Memindex Method | Chris Aldrich

I'm just wrapping up a year of maintaining my bullet journal practice using index cards instead of the more popular notebook form factor. It's heavily inspired by the century+ old Memindex method. AMA

BoffoSocko.com

katzenberger Jul 31, 2023

Interesting find by @chrisaldrich:

"It was fascinating to run across the memindex a productivity tool from the Wilson Memindex Co., advertised in a December 1906 issue of System: The Magazine of Business."

#MemIndex #43Folders #BulletJournal #HipsterPDA

https://boffosocko.com/2023/03/09/the-memindex-method-an-early-precursor-of-the-memex-hipster-pda-43-folders-gtd-basb-and-bullet-journal-systems/