As exceptional, unusual, or controversial cases almost by definition generate more correspondence than their routine counterparts, such files will be thick and thus easily identifiable even in vast series to be pulled for archival retention. Of course, no

As exceptional, unusual, or controversial cases almost by definition generate more correspondence than their routine counterparts, such files will be thick and thus easily identifiable even in vast series to be pulled for archival retention. Of course, not all thick files necessarily follow this pattern: it may be that someone was routinely repaying a loan in monthly payments over thirty years (thus generating a fat file of 360 receipts). The archivist will have to assess the reasons for the thickness of particular files in series where they occur to ensure that such files are indeed exceptional.