A morgue file originally was a collection of paper folders containing old files and notes kept by criminal investigators, as well as old article clippings kept by

newspaper A newspaper is a Periodical literature, periodical publication containing written News, information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background. Newspapers can cover a wide variety of fields such as poli ...

reporters A journalist is a person who gathers information in the form of text, audio or pictures, processes it into a newsworthy form and disseminates it to the public. This is called journalism. Roles Journalists can work in broadcast, print, adverti ...

, in case they became of later use as a quick reference collection. In modern usage, its scope has expanded to cover many post-production materials for use of reference, or an inactive job file. The term is popular in the newspaper business to describe the file that holds past issues flats. The term has also been used by illustrators, comic book artists, designers and teachers. The newspaper magnate

William Randolph Hearst William Randolph Hearst (; April 29, 1863 – August 14, 1951) was an American newspaper publisher and politician who developed the nation's largest newspaper chain and media company, Hearst Communications. His extravagant methods of yellow jou ...

forbade his papers from keeping a morgue file on him. Artist Doug Wildey was known for his huge morgue file of photo references. He became so adept at depicting actual people, that it becomes an ancillary enjoyment trying to identify the celebrities' cameo appearances in his artwork.

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Photographic File of the Paris Bureau of the New York Times, ca. 1900 - ca. 1950
English-language idioms Journalism terminology Visual arts media {{art-stub