The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress is partnering with StoryCorps to collect stories about the COVID-19 pandemic. The multiyear initiative will document, archive, and make accessible Americans’ experiences with COVID-19, to strengthen understanding of American life during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Center is especially interested in collecting stories from workers at the frontlines of COVID-19 care (medical professionals, emergency service workers, and others).
This initiative is part of the COVID-19 American History Project, a Congressionally funded program to record and preserve American experiences with COVID-19. CLICK HERE learn more about the Project.
All COVID-19 American History Project Interviews
Natasha Bagdasarian (48) and fellow public health expert Marianne Udow-Phillips (71) discuss Michigan's response to COVID-19, compare the US vs Asia's response to the pandemic and think about what lessons we should have learned as a country as we prepare...
Vermont State Epidemiologist Dr. Patsy Kelso (56) and former Vermont Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Mark Levine [no age given] sit down to reflect on their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. The two speak about the ways Vermont was particularly...
Dr. Douglas "Doug" Bails (59) speaks to StoryCorps facilitator Chapin Montague (25) about his role as Chief of Internal Medicine at Bellevue Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. He speaks to the importance of public health, his experience teaching medical students...
Colleagues William "Bill" Kays (55) and Natasha Pineda (46) reflect on their roles during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in Anchorage, from the arrival of evacuees from Wuhan to local responses, personal challenges, and moments of resilience. Their...
Colleagues Jennifer Bransford-Koons (55) and Deanna Zotalis-Ferreira (59) remember working at the County of San Diego Office of Emergency Services during the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss the county's Healthcare Provider Status Task Force as well as the Test, Trace, Treat...
Colleagues Daliah Heller (52) and Sarah Krauss (34) discuss Daliah's public health work and her experience during COVID-19.
Friends Claire Kyoung (21) and Minna Apostolova (21) reflect on navigating college during the COVID-19 pandemic and how their friendship has helped them both grow through challenging times.
Colleagues Ellen Hodges (50) and Brian Lefferts (45) remember responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, as healthcare workers, in rural western Alaska. They recount moments of solidarity and teamwork, consider the cultural ramifications of social distancing protocol, and discuss the logistics...
Colleagues Dr. Coleman Cutchins (48) and Dr. Joseph "Joe" McLaughlin (54) meet at the Anchorage Public Library and reflect on their experience leading the COVID-19 Pandemic response in Alaska.
Retired public health officer Marcus Cheatham (68) talks about serving in a rural community during the COVID pandemic. Interviewed by his wife Debra Bennett (69) who rode it out with him.
StoryCorps facilitator Ian Gonzalez (27) asks his conversation partner Danielle Pierson (35) about her work with the organization Project N95 and how they worked to get PPE to people and organizations across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Colleagues Heidi Hedberg (49) and Emily Ricci (42) have a conversation about Alaska's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and their respective roles and experiences working in state government. Heidi was Director of Public Health in Alaska and Emily was Chief...
StoryCorps facilitator Tamekia Jackson (38) interviews Molly McKinley (42) about her work on the COVID-19 Emergency Response Team at San Diego Public Health Services. Molly reflects on how people responded to the pandemic, balancing duty and despair, and what she...