Collecting experiences of the Coronavirus pandemic in Sheffield
While we’re all on lockdown both Museums Sheffield and Sheffield Archives have been thinking about what objects represent our lives at the moment, and what should be collected to tell the story of what we’re currently going through to future generations.
They want to do their best to represent this unprecedented moment in our lives, but need your help. What do you think should be kept as a memory of Sheffield and its people at this time? In particular, if you have a suggestion of something you’d be happy to donate to the city’s collections that represents your experience during lockdown they’d love to hear from you.
In terms of objects you might want to donate, these could be items to do with:
- Community support information – notes and cards
- Cheering yourself and/ or other people up
- New activities / hobbies / exercise you’ve tried at home
- Cooking something different
- Home-schooling/ entertaining children
- Child-minding
- Going to school / teaching or other school duties
- Social distancing
- Working from home
- Keeping your business going
- Being a key-worker, e.g. NHS staff, shop staff, delivery driver etc.
- Shielding or self-isolating
- In memory of loved ones
- Volunteering
- Photographs that reflect your experiences
Maybe you…
- Keep a diary to make a daily or weekly record of life in your local area during lockdown.
- Create a scrapbook of life during the Covid-19 outbreak. You could include photographs, newspaper cuttings, notes and cards from friends and family, any leaflets you’ve received relating to Coronavirus, your own notes and observations etc. Don’t forget to add dates where possible. This idea is particularly good for children who might have created a lot of artwork during lockdown.
- Take some photographs or record a video that captures something unique about the impact of Coronavirus on your local area. This might be on your commute to work or while out exercising.
- Songs, poems and sketches are also a great way of recording your personal experiences. Many stories from generations ago were passed down through songs and storytelling.
For more information on how to get involved, please contact Clara Morgan, Curator of Social History at Museums Sheffield , at social@museums-sheffield.org.uk or the Sheffield Archive by emailing archives@sheffield.gov.uk