How do you organize your collection?

[sdsheller]

I have been collecting insects (especially beetles) seriously for about 12 years, and keep them mounted with full data in unit trays in Cornell drawers, museum-style. 

Now I've been dabbling in shell collecting, something I loved and aspired to carry out in a serious manner even as a child, but which I've never really pursued until recently.

I decided to continue using wooden, glass-topped Cornell drawers, and even unit trays to organize the shell species. I place a piece of black felt on top of some cotton in the tray, and the data label or labels under the felt. Then I try to arrange them phylogenetically, as I do my insects (although that is a work in progress!).

I would love to see other collectors' modes of organizing. I got the black felt idea from seeing a photo of a shell collection on a shell forum, and find it fun and inspirational to see others' methods!