Beginning in mid-March, several organizations in the Essex National Heritage Area took on the challenging but meaningful duty of collecting their communities responses to the coronavirus pandemic. Many communities have history & culture organizations that serve as repositories for local history, collecting a variety of archival materials including photographs, newspaper articles, journals, and other informative artifacts. 

 

“When the pandemic began to directly impact our local communities, Essex Heritage saw several organizations rise to the challenge of documenting history in real time,” said Annie C. Harris, Essex Heritage CEO. Essex Heritage annual photo contest even added a non-judged challenge category, Heritage at Home, for local photographers to capture their candid COVID-19 responses through images. 

 

“As we progress through this pandemic, we find comfort looking back in history to moments where our communities have overcome challenges and adversity. We are so blessed to be a part of a county rich in history & culture, but that is only possible because people who have come before us have chosen to document history. We can be those people today for future generations to utilize and appreciate. ”

 

Essex Heritage is encouraging all community members to participate in their local initiative. 

 

Below are several organizations in the heritage area that are collecting and archiving their community’s response to COVID-19.

 

Andover – Andover Center for History and Culture

https://www.andoverhistoryandculture.org/share-your-story

 

Beverly – Historic Beverly

https://www.facebook.com/beverlyhistory/photos/a.426067525939/10156832588220940/?type=3&theater

 

Lawrence – Lawrence History Center

https://www.lawrencehistorycenter.org/collections/remoteoralhistory/diary

 

Lynn  – Lynn Museum / LynnArts

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdxmeNwhvggUUNd8jR53D-UN_pltuyA0sElr35l0RZpK9EvuA/viewform

 

Marblehead – Marblehead Museum

https://marbleheadmuseum.org/marblehead-memories/

 

Nahant – Nahant Historical Society

https://nahanthistory.org/living-history-project

 

North Andover – North Andover Historical Society

https://www.northandoverhistoricalsociety.org/covid19

 

Topsfield – Topsfield Library

https://topsfieldlibrary.org/share-your-story/

 

Salem – Salem State University Archives

https://libguides.salemstate.edu/home/archives/covid-19

 

If you do not see your community on the list but wish to share a story, image, or other artifact, please contact Essex Heritage to be directed to the appropriate organization.