The global COVID-19 pandemic is causing far-reaching societal disruptions that are unprecedented in our lifetimes. The Elon University Department of History and Geography, in conjunction with Belk Library, are working to record, collect, and archive the experiences of Elon students, faculty and staff during this time.

We do not yet know when or how this pandemic will end or what lessons we will learn, whether in the immediate aftermath or years hence. It is certain, though, that future generations of Elon students will want to study, learn from, and understand how we experienced this moment. Your recorded observations will contribute to this knowledge.

To participate in this archival project, you may submit a written record of your experience in the form of a written document, a video, or an audio recording. You may write down or record a single narrative or observation, or a series of entries. You may also consider interviewing a member of your household or a friend (via Skype or other technology to allow for social distancing if needed.)  Whether writing or recording your own observations, or interviewing someone else, below are some questions to consider. Feel free to pick and choose a selection of these questions to address or write your own.

  • When did you first hear about Coronavirus/COVID-19?
  • How are you feeling about the pandemic?
  • How is your family being affected?
  • How have you been adapting?
  • What is it like being at home or on campus at this time?
  • How has your education been affected?
  • Has your work been affected? If so, how?
  • Are you keeping up with the news? Where do you get your news?
  • How well do you think the nation (or your state or city) is handling it?
  • Are you concerned about the future? What aspects?
  • Are you hopeful about the future? What aspects?
  • What do you miss?
  • What are you grateful for?

You have the option whether to identify yourself in your submission or to make it anonymous (the files you submit will be kept separate from your name and e-mail address that you will use to log-in to the submission page below). If you prefer to stay anonymous, a written submission is preferable. Please include some non-identifying demographic details such as age and location, e.g. “I’m Juan – that’s not my real name – I’m 21 years-old, and I live in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago with my family.”

If you are interviewing someone, be sure to explain this project and get their permission before submitting the interview to this archive.

Once you are ready to submit, click the button below to begin the submission process (for large media files like videos that are larger than 40MB, please upload to a file-sharing cloud such as Google Drive, DropBox or OneDrive and select “Large media file” when submitting).