Are you willing to journal about your COVID-19 experience?

Help Miami University record this historic time

By Kristal Humphrey, university news and communications

To capture the experiences of the Miami University community during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Walter Havighurst Special Collections and University Archives is asking for volunteers to journal about their experience.

Although the focus is on members of the Miami community, journals from other people in the Oxford area are welcome as well.

Rachel Makarowski, Special Collections librarian, said historically, diaries and journals have served as fantastic firsthand accounts of events, but she thinks the importance of the project goes beyond making sure there’s a written record for historians to study.

“A variety of disciplines, from sociology to social work to journalism, will be interested in examining these journals,” Makarowski said. “The beauty of a project like this is that even things that normally seem mundane to us, like grocery shopping, become important and are notable.”

Journalists may type or write by hand, transcribe news (write headlines and summarize stories), draw or compose memes and/or compose poems. They may also interview family and friends about their own experiences and record the interview in their journal as long as they have the interviewee’s permission.

Both paper and digital submissions will be accepted. The emphasis is not on good grammar, spelling or style, but rather self-expression and candor.

To participate, start journaling now and complete the online form. You will receive additional information about submission procedures in the coming weeks.

If you have questions, contact the Walter Havighurst Special Collections and University Archives at speccoll@MiamiOH.edu.