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Illustration featuring a system for filing notes, from De arte excerpendi vom gelahrten Buchhalten liber singularis: quo genera & praecepta excerpendi, ab aliis hucusq[ue]; tradita omnia, novis accessionibus aucta, ordinata methodo exhibentur, et suis quaeque materiis applicantur..., 1689, by Vincent Placcius (1642-1699). *GC6.P6904.689d, Houghton Library, Harvard University.

Global Information History Workshop

About Us

Featured Media

Information is shaped by many formats, so much so that some theorists find renewed relevance in Marshall McLuhan’s unforgettable catch phrase “the medium is the message“.

Featured Resources: Literature, Websites, Databases in our Field

Our Sister Website

Please see the SwissBritNet Database at the Universities of Basel and Bern for our sister website, curated by Philippe Schmid.

Affiliated Resources

Please see the resources pages at History of the Book at Harvard and the additional materials and updates at Information: A Historical Companion.

The Routledge Handbook of Information History (2025)

From our Network

The new Routledge Handbook of Information History (2025/2026) with open access content.

Upcoming GIH Workshops

Dec
12

Mikhail Sergeev, The National Library of Russia, St Petersburg, “Conrad Gessner and Information Management: Three Case Studies”

On December 12, 2025 at 10:15 am
Illustration in a note book of Conrad Gesner showing the tulip he saw in the garden of Johann Heinrich Herwart, Augsburg, 1557
Feb
13

Monika Mommertz, University of Basel (Workshop)

On February 13, 2026 at 10:15 am
Monika Mommertz, University of Basel
Mar
13

Yakov Mayer, University of Haifa (Workshop)

On March 13, 2026 at 10:15 am
Yakov Mayer, Portrait
Apr
10

Melinda Michel, University of Bonn (Workshop)

On April 10, 2026 at 10:15 am
Melinda Michel, University of Bonn
May
08

GIH Workshop Symposium (Save the Date)

On May 8, 2026 at 10:00 am

From Our Network