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
Colleagues Deborah Martin [no age given] and Carrie McClellan [no age given] reflect on serving the senior population during the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss their work at ElderHelp of San Diego, appreciate their community, and reflect on how their day-to-day...
StoryCorps facilitator Tamekia Jackson (38) interviews public technology services librarian Catherine Hoang [no age given] about her work at the San Diego Public Library during the COVID-19 pandemic. Catherine describes and celebrates how the library served the community during lockdown...
StoryCorps facilitator Tamekia Jackson (38) interviews Rea Alvarez (50) about her work with the county of San Diego's COVID-19 response team. Rea reflects on how the pandemic pushed her to learn fast and get her hands dirty, all while taking...
StoryCorps facilitator Micaela "Mica" Camacho-Tenreiro (25) asks Peter Chaffe (67) about his experience working for the Brooklyn Public Library in the COVID-19 Pandemic and how he would make weekly calls to elderly and disabled library members.
Colleagues Teri Hoggard (66) and Kristi Fenick (55) share their COVID experiences and discuss working with the Parks and Recreation Department during the pandemic.
Coworkers Jenna Novotny (38) and Lexi Eisele (28) discuss working at Mama's Kitchen, which provides appropriate meals to people with dietary restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Friends Deirdre Levy (36) and Augelyn Francisco (42) speak about their work providing meals to hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The two reflect on what they learned doing this work during the pandemic, the loss they experienced as a result...
Priscilla Wilson (33) and her partner Blix Coughlin (34) reflect on the massive changes in their life that the COVID-19 Pandemic brought them and how they have operated as a supportive team throughout. They also describe what it was like...
Ernesta Galvez (43) comparte con el facilitador de StoryCorps Ian Gonzalez (27) sus experiencias de trabajar como deliverista, o repartidora de comida, durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Ernesta habla de inmigrar a los Estados Unidos de México, lo bueno y...
Colleagues Brent Wakefield (55) and Tim Ray (60) discuss their work with Meals on Wheels in San Diego, California during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Coworkers Beth Shapiro (60) and Gayle Snible (57) have a conversation about the COVID-19 pandemic and how it affected their work at Citymeals on Wheels.
Alexandra "Alex" Torres (30) talks with Micaela Camacho-Tenreiro (25) about her experience working as a COVID-19 investigator during the pandemic, and how it changed her.
Denise Foster (68) and her husband David "Dave" Carleton (69) discuss Denise's work and involvement with the San Diego Emergency Operations Center during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dorella Walters [no age given] and her coworker Kate Janeski [no age given] discuss how they and the organization they work for, Gods Love We Deliver, managed to deliver thousands of meals to sickly and needy people during the pandemic.
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 Fred Caban, Jr. (38) and Tom Stewart (47) remember the successes and challenges of addressing food insecurity and other social issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss their work at the Jewish Family Service of San Diego and what...
Colleagues Moriah Washington (41) and Anthony Escoto (37) reflect on their time working for NYC Emergency Management during the COVID-19 pandemic. The two discuss how they came to work in this field, the intensity of their day to day during...
Colleagues Carrie Bloss (49) and Matthew "Matt" Abrams (42) have a conversation about the COVID-19 pandemic and their experiences working in human services in New York City. They work together at Heights and Hills, a nonprofit that provides support to...
Paul V. (64) and his fiancé Tonya Morton (36) have a conversation about their pandemic experiences and tell the story of how they came together.
Father, Christopher "Chris" Heiser (74) converses with his daughter, Danielle Heiser (32), about working high-exposure jobs during COVID-19. Danielle is an ER nurse and Chris is a career paramedic, who worked with Operation Shelter to Home during the pandemic.
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.
Colleagues LaVonna Connelly [no age given] and Arun Prem (63) consider the COVID-19 pandemic through a transportation lens. They outline how Facilitating Access to Coordinated Transportation (FACT) successfully served San Diego county during lockdown, discuss the long-term impacts of pandemic...
Friends and coworkers Misty Jones (51) and Casey Smith (47) discuss moving out of their regular responsibilities, librarian and fleet directors, to create the emergency response to COVID in San Diego.
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.
Jason Kirschner (36) shares about his experience as a hospital chaplain and rabbi during the pandemic with his conversation partner Micaela Camacho-Tenreiro (25).