Filing cabinets were only developed in the U.S. in the mid-1800s and revolutionized business development. Prior to the manufacture of filing drawer systems, it’s believed paperwork was filed on shelves, in desk drawers, and in boxes.The history of filing systems evolved from bundled paperwork in the early 1800s to the development of the lateral file in 1998. Increasing volume and expansion of business environments, banking, educational, and transportation systems continually called for more capable and organized filing systems to handle stored files allowing ready access to specific information.Early filing required paperwork to be bundled.Prior to the creation and manufacture of organized file systems, important paperwork would often be gathered together, bound in some manner and stored in boxes or on shelves. In the early 1800s, shelves and dividers were built inside wooden safes so they could accommodate ledgers and stacks of papers as well as funds and safeguard them from theft.Bundling paperwork proved less than adequate when a person wanted quick access to specific pieces of information.A variety of filing cabinets began to be crafted in the mid-1800s, steadily evolving to meet the needs of newly burgeoning businesses.