The Covid-19 pandemic has wrought changes in all of our lives, whether we have been directly touched by the illness or not. From the coronavirus itself to the lockdown to the economic impacts, we are living through a moment in history, one that we will look back on decades from now. The AADL Archives wants to collect as many stories as we can, creating a document of this year in our community.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I submit to the Pandemic Log?
We want things any way you can get them to us. All of these things will get your submissions to us.
Email: pandemiclog@aadl.org
Online Form: https://aadl.org/form/pandemic-log
Voicemail: 734-327-4223 (5 minute time limit)
What types of submissions are you looking for?
Since we are looking to document whatever we can, we are looking for any way you think is best to document. Written pieces of 20 words or 20,000 words. One photo or 100 photos. Voice recordings or videos of your stories. Whatever you want to document in whatever way you feel most comfortable. Pretty much any kind of file you create with your computer or phone can be uploaded via the online form or attached to an email to us.
What kinds of things are you looking for?
We're looking for everything that has struck you about this time, large or small. The major changes in your life or the little things you have noticed.
I can't think of anything to submit!
That isn't a question, but we'll answer it anyway. Think about the things that stand out about this time. What has changed for you that might never change back? What's something funny that happened because you were all at home? What's the thing you will tell people 40 years from now when you are all talking about what you did during the 2020 pandemic? What's the funny story you told your friend on the phone last night?
How many times can I submit?
As many times as you would like. Trying to tell a story while it is still happening would be pretty hard if you couldn't update later on. The more we can collect, the more complete a story we will be able to tell. Multiple submissions are encouraged.
Can I submit anonymously?
Yes. We are looking to collect as much material as we can, and if you would rather not have your name attached, that is fine with us. Obviously the more information we have connected to your submission, the more value it will have for researchers in the future, but anonymous material is always better than no material.
Are you going to publish this anywhere?
If we wanted to put any submissions up on our website or social media, we would contact you to ask first. You can also feel free to indicate to us when submitting if you are comfortable with us doing so.
"We were planning on a party at a video game arcade for my son's seventh birthday in early April, but even back in early March we were starting to question whether anyone would come to such a thing. It became clear not long after that that it wasn't even really an option. We broke the news and he took it pretty well, but we have no idea when he will actually get to have a party or what shape that even takes. He had a good birthday in the end. We got a bunch of his friends to drive by and have a little parade; folks decorated their cars with signs and streamers and balloons, and honked and shouted as they passed by. He still felt special. When we had let know him his party was cancelled, we told impressed on him what a big deal this all was (which he knew, but this sort of crystallized that), and that this missed party would be something he would be talking about when he was 70."
"The big thing we're missing is baseball! One kid is missing his little league season, my wife is missing her vintage baseball season, and we are all wishing there was major league baseball to put on the tv on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Even if the parks opened up again, we can't see ourselves heading out to a Lansing Lugnuts or Toledo Mud Hens game, which is usually something we do 3 or 4 times a summer. It feels like such a silly thing to be feeling when people are getting sick and so many are losing their jobs; it's just another way that this summer will be different from every other one we can remember."