The holidays starting with Halloween through the Chinese New Year in January have traditionally been a time of celebrations, parties, and gatherings with co-workers, friends, family, and loved ones. With the continued spread of COVID-19 globally, the CDC and Department of Health recommendations for preventing transmitting COVID-19 include limiting in-person interactions, especially with people outside of your residence. The AHC wants to know how you adapted your traditions, celebrations, and normal routine to stay connected with your nearest and dearest through this uncertain time in Wyoming. We’ll preserve your stories for current and future generations.
Participating in this project is easy. The AHC wants our community members to express their observations and feelings about the pandemic in a manner that is best suited for them. We encourage our contributors to take photographs, write stories, create artwork, interview friends and family, participate in the AHC survey, and submit essays that tell us what you see, feel, hear and what has changed over the last few months.
How did you celebrate Thanksgiving? Did you trying cooking your first turkey? Did you create menus with friends and family to share the experience via Zoom?
Box 15, Photo #15845, Collection No. 1005, Lora Webb Nichols Papers, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Will you host a virtual new year’s party? Will it have a theme? Will you play virtual background bingo? Will you be hosting a Netflix party to watch a holiday classic film?
Box 4, Negative #9065a, Collection No. 167, Ludwig & Svenson Studio Photographs, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Will you drive around town to look at the holiday lights? Did you participate in your town’s holiday decoration contest?
Box 20, Negative #21894, Collection No. 167, Ludwig & Svenson Studio Photographs, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Did you send holiday cards? Did you send handwritten family letters?
Box 13, Photo #13400, Collection No. 1005, Lora Webb Nichols Papers, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
Did you finally try making popcorn and cranberry garland? Did you catch your grandpa snooping under the tree at the presents?
Box 91, Negative #D3-3084 & B-31532, Collection No. 400044, Samuel H. Knight Collection, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
The AHC encourages you to be creative and express how this pandemic has impacted your life professionally and personally. Gathering these stories now for long-term preservation ensures an accurate and more complete narrative about your experiences.
The AHC, in partnership with the Wyoming State Archives, Wyoming State Museum, and Wyoming Historical Societies, are creating a joint online platform to display submissions we receive. Your stories will be available for others to interact with and may provide a sense of understanding and comfort.
To contribute to the historical record of this momentous time or learn more about the project, please visit the AHC COVID-19 Collection Project webpage at https://www.uwyo.edu/ahc/covid-19-collecting.html. All donors can elect whether to remain anonymous and even to keep their contributions from being viewed for up to five years.
Happy Holidays! #COVID19WY #alwaysarchiving
Box 12, Negative #15387, Collection No. 167, Ludwig & Svenson Studio Photographs, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
– Post contributed by University Archivist Sara Davis.
