COVID-19 Collection
Unfortunately, pandemics are part of world history. In 2009, the world fought the H1N1 virus; in 1968, the H3N2 virus; in 1957, the H2N2 virus, and the worst in recent history, the 1918 Influenza pandemic. Today, COVID-19 is added to that list.
In April 2020, the Salisbury University Libraries established a COVID-19 archive as part of the Salisbury University Archives. While the collection currently documents internal changes enacted by SU, we encourage you to donate any materials that document your experiences during the ongoing pandemic, from March 2020 to the present. Materials can include anything relevant to your experience; for example: journal entries, tweets, photographs, drawings, short videos, etc. Other forms of documentation, such as audio recordings, photo essays, essays written for class on the topic of COVID-19, and interviews with family members and friends are also acceptable. Not only can this project help us document history, it could be therapeutic to help you de-stress and reflect on the past two years.
This is not an idea original to us — we saw several other archives and historical societies doing this. But future students and scholars will thank you for your help in preserving what (we hope) can never be recreated.
If you have any questions, please contact University Archivist, Jennifer Pulsney.
How to Contribute
No matter what kind of materials you submit or how many times you submit, please start by submitting this online donation form. Only one donation form is needed per person. You may submit additional materials, but you do not need a new form each time.
Physical Items
Physical journals and items can be dropped off at the Nabb Center on the 4th floor of the GAC or can be mailed to:
COVID-19 Archive
Nabb Research Center/GAC
Salisbury University
1101 Camden Avenue
Salisbury, MD 21801
Electronic Items
Digital journals and materials can be uploaded as part of your donation form. After submitting your donation form, you will also receive a link by email that will allow to upload further materials at a later time if needed. If you prefer not to upload your materials through this link, you can also email digital materials to Jennifer Pulsney, our University Archivist, with the subject line: University Archives COVID-19 collection.
Privacy
Please note that these materials will eventually become publicly available through the archives. Do not include any private personal information such as your street address, phone number, student id number, or other personally identifiable information. Your name is encouraged, but not required. If you would like your materials to remain completely anonymous, you may indicate that in your donation form. Your name is required in the form for administrative purposes, but your name will never be released to researchers if you select anonymity.
In an effort to keep medical information of others private, as per HIPPA guidelines, please refrain from including any specific medical information about others, including family members, friends, other SU students, etc. If any such information is included in your submission, please inform Jennifer Pulsney, the University Archivist, upon your submission of materials.
Restricting Your Materials
If you would like to temporarily restrict your materials from public view, you may specify a reasonable amount of time for your journal/materials to remain private, up to 10 years, in your donation form.
Please note an embargo is different from anonymity. If you choose an embargo, your materials will remain locked from public viewing for the indicated amount of time. Once the embargo is over, your name will be associated with your donated materials and your materials will be open to researchers. If you wish to remain anonymous after the embargo period, please select the anonymity choice in your donation form.
If you have questions about restrictions on your materials, please contact Jennifer Pulsney.
Optional Survey Submission
University Archives has created an informal survey that asks questions about your experience dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. You may complete as much or as little of the survey as you would like and include your name or remain anonymous. Please use the appropriate survey for your situation. If you were a student in Spring 2020 please use the Student Survey. To submit your survey, please email it to Jennifer Pulsney or submit it using our online form.