Documenting this long-developing invention requires mention of Paul Otlet's 'Mundaneum' (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mundaneum), to which he devoted decades beginning in 1910.

"Otlet regarded the project as the centrepiece of a new 'world city'—a centrepiece which eventually became an archive with more than 12 million index cards and documents."

H.G. Wells talked of a 'World Brain' in 1936. Little doubt that Bush was aware of these ideas ... not to denigrate his contribution.

Another read: 'Secret History of Hypertext' (https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/05/in-se...)