I agree that it is an oak filing cabinet, but it was for "filing" dress, etc. patterns advertised and/or sold/distributed by the Ladies Home Journal magazine.
Thus, in my opinion, said file cabinet was/is an "advertising" cabinet for a retail store .... whereby one could purchase "the pattern" they seen in the Ladies Home Journal magazine.
If you click on this url
http://vintagepatterns.wikia.com/wiki/Ladies_Home_Journal_8202 this is what you will see
If the "image" doesn't appear then click on the link.
Didn't work, I'll host it.