Residents of East Tennessee are being asked to document their coronavirus experiences for the Archives of Appalachia at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City.
The Center for Appalachian Studies and Services, which includes the Archives of Appalachia, will collect materials during the duration of the COVID-19 crisis and permanently house them within the center, a repository for rare manuscripts, books, photographs and audio and video recordings documenting life in southern Appalachia.
“Our project, ‘Telling Your Story: Documenting COVID-19 in East Tennessee,’ will chronicle how the people of our region journeyed through these unprecedented times,” said Dr. Jeremy Smith, director of the Archives of Appalachia. “We want to hear from our community how they spent their days, how their lives, families and businesses were affected and how they experienced loss and hardship, as well as how they stood in solidarity and the lessons they learned.
“We are living through a transformational experience,” said Smith, adding that the effort will “document everyday life during this time.”
The project is meant to encompass the entirety of East Tennessee, not just the immediate area around the campus.