1. A method for sorting document images stored in a memory of a document management system, comprising the steps of: segmenting each document image recorded in the memory into a set of layout objects; each layout object in each of the sets of layout objects being one of a plurality of layout object types; each of the plurality of layout object types identifying a structural element of a document; selecting a feature of a document from a set of features; each of the features in the set of features identifying groups of layout objects in different ones of the sets of layout objects recorded in the memory; assembling in the memory a set of image segments; each image segment in the set of image segments identifies those layout objects of a document image stored in the memory that form the selected feature; and sorting the assembled image segments into clusters in the memory; each cluster defining a grouping of image segments that have similar layout objects forming the selected feature.