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
Friends Britteny Howell (43) and John Laurance (40) have a conversation about the pandemic, how their work changed, and the future of public health. During the COVID-19 pandemic Britteny was an Associate Professor at the University of Alaska researching gerontology...
Jason Kirschner (36) shares about his experience as a hospital chaplain and rabbi during the pandemic with his conversation partner Micaela Camacho-Tenreiro (25).
Longtime colleagues Kevin O'Neill (60) and Lucia Acevedo Gonzales (47) reflect on the COVID-19 lockdown. They discuss how the pandemic transformed their work at Social Advocates for Youth (SAY) San Diego and their own understandings of change, fear, and community.
John Altman (55) interviews friend Michael Libertazzo (70) about his experiences, as a psychologist, supporting hospital staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. Michael compares his COVID-19 and 9/11 experiences, and shares what it was like to return to the hospital whose...
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.
Public relations specialist Gayle Falkenthal [no age given] interviews Jim Mumford (68) about his experiences during the COVID-19 lockdown as the owner of Good Earth Plant Company. Jim reflects on navigating the pandemic as a small business owner, our love...
Coworkers Pedro Urbaez (43), Michael Fowles (56), and Max Hoffman (36) reflect on their time working for the New York City food rescue organization City Harvest during the COVID-19 pandemic. The group reflects on how they were able to distribute...
Shama Mounzer (42) and her colleague Louis Piszker (60) remember how they adapted to the realities of COVID-19 in their work at Wayne Metro to keep being able to serve the greater Detroit community.
Rebekka Esbjornson (38) and her husband Jeffery Karlson (36) have a conversation about the pandemic, how it impacted their business, and the tourism industry in Ketchikan, Alaska.
Coworkers Claudine Van Gonka (56) and Janet Villa (51) discuss working at the blood bank throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Janet oversaw continued blood collection and Claudine, who was over their media, motivated people to continue giving blood.
Colleagues at Versiti Blood Research Institute, Dawn Kaiser (53) and Dr. Timothy Pancioli (34), discuss their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Both describe the challenges and triumphs of Versiti during this time.
Andrew Pugliese (52) speaks with StoryCorps facilitator Micaela Camacho-Tenreiro (25) about his experience as the head of the Brooklyn Sanitation Department during the COVID-19 pandemic. He reflects on the challenges the department faced, how they adapted to assist healthcare workers...
StoryCorps staff member Sarah Krauss (35) asks her conversation partner, NYU physician and professor Michael Tanner (71), about his memories of teaching medical students and treating patients during COVID-19.
Dr. Asha Shajahan (44) speaks with conversation partner and StoryCorps facilitator Ian Gonzalez (27), about her work as a physician and public health communicator during the COVID-19 pandemic. She describes her experiences working in the COVID-19 units in inpatient care....
Augustin Rucobo (35) and colleague Roxanna Renderos (47) discuss working as infectious disease nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. They compare their work beforehand to their experiences during the pandemic.
Cristobal Navarrete Gomez (28) speaks with Mariah Hugo Almasco (26) about working in eviction prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cristobal discusses his work with City Heights Community Development Corporation, the housing crisis in San Diego, California, and what home means...
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...
Friends Lemuel "Lambo" Burgos [no age given] and Micaela Camacho-Tenreiro (25) reflect on their experiences as essential workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
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...
Colleagues and friends Elizabeth Nelson (66) and Amanda Glanzer (45) have a conversation about their community theater First City Players and how they adapted to the pandemic.
StoryCorps facilitator Ian Gonzalez (27) interviews Brian Colopy (41) about how he managed to keep baseball alive in Michigan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Owner of the Kalamazoo Growlers and the Battle Creek Battle Jacks, Brian remembers running a regional, three-team...
Katie Vogel [no age given] asks her coworker, Connie Mendez [no age given], about her upbringing and her job at Henry Street Settlement. Participants specifically discuss their food and job placement assistance programs during the pandemic.
Colleagues Stephanie Rose (62) and Rebecca "Becky" Parker (74) meet at the Anchorage Public Library to talk about their experience during COVID and their effort to manage the Anchorage Senior Activity Center.
Jennifer Tuteur (56) and her boyfriend Frank Cairo (59) discuss Jennifer's work during the COVID-19 pandemic and leading medical outreach and education on the emergency response team in San Diego.
Significant others Christopher Morse (49) and Lisa Bricker (47) tell stories from the pandemic including how they met, adapted at work, and navigated their careers. Christopher drove for Uber and started his online degree to become a teacher and Lisa...