Abstract
The Zettelkasten, or “slipbox,” is a note-taking and personal knowledge management system utilizing linked slips of information. Historically, it evolved from commonplace books, with figures like Conrad Gessner and later Thomas Harrison and Vincent Placcius developing early card-based systems in the 17th century. Carl Linnaeus used standardized slips for research in 1767. The 20th century saw numerous scholars, including Jean Paul, Antonin Sertillanges, Benjamin, and Barthes, employ and refine card-file methods. Manuals like those by Earle W. Dow and Carter Alexander detailed these systems. The concept influenced early hypertext software and the invention of wikis. The Zettelkasten enhances creativity by facilitating information retrieval and association through numbering, tags, and cross-references.