Your Story is History
Among other sources, historians rely on journals and letters to reconstruct the events, opinions, and culture of the past. Right now, we are living through a major historical event, and historians of the future will want to know what life was like for everyday Americans during the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020.
YOU can participate in creating a historical record for future generations. The History Museum of Mobile is looking for volunteers to record your personal experiences by submitting emails, letters, texts, or social media posts OR by keeping a journal through this experience – it will become part of the History Museum of Mobile’s permanent collection. Whoever you are, wherever you are, your experience matters!
If you decide to keep a journal….
1. Journals do not need to be in any specific format – typed or handwritten, prose or poetry, word or drawings - we want it all!
2. Make it specific to you - how are you and your loved ones coping with the outbreak, what has changed in your life, what are your thoughts and impressions, etc.
3. Don’t worry about “good grammar” or spelling.
4. Let us know you’re interested in participating! After this crisis is over, contact the History Museum of Mobile staff to donate your journal (or a copy of your journal) in analog or digital format.
5. For the sake of future historians, include as much of the following as you are comfortable including: Your full name, date of birth, place of birth, home address
If you decide to submit emails, texts, letters, or social media posts…
1. Collect the content, preferably in a single file, and email to our staff. It can be just one thing or many things!
2. The content should be specific to you – how are you and your loved ones coping with the outbreak, what has changed in your life, your thoughts and impressions, etc.
3. Don’t worry about “good grammar” or spelling.
4. If you are including texts from another person, be sure to ask that person’s permission before submitting.
5. For the sake of future historians, include as much of the following as you are comfortable including: Your full name, date of birth, place of birth, home address
Those who choose to donate will receive accessioning forms to make their donation part of the History Museum of Mobile’s collection.
Check out the correspondence of Samuel Muldon, a Mobile insurance man whose letter on the 1878 yellow fever epidemic have proven an important source for historians. His collection of letters are in the collection of the History Museum of Mobile.
