Stories from a Distance is a community story gathering project about peoples’ experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Sharing stories from Madison community members will help to document this unique and unprecedented time in Madison’s history and add to the collective history about the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the COVID-19 pandemic is a global experience, many already systematically marginalized communities in Madison have been disproportionately affected by the Safer at Home order, unequal access to healthcare and reliable internet connections, the loss of employment, childcare, and more. Stories from a Distance seeks to amplify a broad range of perspectives and voices, particularly from these disproportionately affected communities.
We invite you to explore the collection and to learn about the different ways you can share your stories.
Ways to Share your Story
We are no longer accepting stories, but there are also many other local opportunities to share your COVID-19 story. Here are just a few:
- The Wisconsin Historical Society’s COVID-19 Journal project
- For anyone who is a student or works at UW-Madison, the University Archives is collecting documents and material related to COVID-19
- The Local Voices Network is hosting a series of community conversations about COVID-19 that are future-looking and action oriented
- Inside Stories, a podcast of Madison stories produced by Jen Rubin and Takeyla Benton, welcome local COVID-19 and social distancing stories
- Youth are invited to be Creative During COVID, a collaboration between MayDM and Public Health Madison & Dane County Facebook | Instagram
Other Details
Stories from a Distance is inspired by a number of “living history” projects, including the IUPUI Covid-19 Oral History Project; the Vermont Folklife Center’s Listening in Place project; and more.
Stories from a Distance is a curated public collection with editorial decisions made by library staff. Any stories shared may be, but are not guaranteed to be, published and archived in the Living History Project digital collection and public website and may be featured on Madison Public Library’s website and/or social platforms.