Archives & Special Collections (ASC) is interested in documenting the wide range of recent reactions, experiences, and activities undertaken by members of the UConn Nation as we all adjust, struggle and move forward through the challenges of a world-wide pandemic.
Archived news and internet sites will be excellent primary sources for future historians studying the pandemic. It is well documented, however, that the day-to-day activities and social and emotional experiences of people can get lost if not collected and preserved while memories, experiences, and reactions are fresh.
ASC is reaching out to the UConn community–students, faculty, staff, administrators, alumni, and other affiliated community members–to share your stories, in whatever form you wish, to be collected, preserved for posterity, and made accessible for research and study in Archives & Special Collections’ UConn COVID-19 Collection.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to document the personal experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic by UConn-affiliated individuals, wherever you may be during these unusual times and using any media with which you are comfortable. Examples can include audio files, social media posts, emails, screenshots, photographs, blog posts, journaling, zines, interviews, and more.
Submitting Material to the UConn COVID-19 Collection:
Donate personal materials: If you are interested in donating your documents, photographs, recordings, or other personal materials to the UConn COVID-19 Collection, please complete this form: COVID-19 Collection Documentation Submission Form. After we receive your information, we’ll send you a link to a Google Drive folder to upload your files. The folder will contain a deed of gift for you to sign. The deed of gift documents your contribution and indicates how your donation may be used.
*Note: if you’re donating material that you created with others (e.g. interviews you conducted with your family/friends/neighbors), we will need everyone involved to complete a deed of gift form. Please see the donation form for details – ASC staff will follow up with you via your submission email, if necessary.
Fill out an online questionnaire: If you don’t have material you’d like to donate but would still like to share your experiences with ASC, consider filling out a short questionnaire (links coming soon):
Transfer departmental records: ASC will work with University departments to transfer COVID-19 related records in accordance with state records retention guidelines. ASC has been archiving University websites, communications, and other online content since March 2020.
Not sure how you’d like to participate? Have additional questions? Contact Betsy Pittman, University Archivist: betsy.pittman@uconn.edu