COLORADO SPRINGS — The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum needs your help.
It's trying to collect people's COVID-19 stories to preserve what's happened during this time for future generations.
Hillary Mannion said, "Those ordinary, everyday experiences, that's what's really going to make up the history of this time."
Mannion, an archivist at the museum, lives and breathes the history of the Pikes Peak region every day.
"I feel really lucky to be able to do that."
One of her latest projects is collecting people's COVID-19 stories.
She said, "It's important that we collect now so that we have these stories for future generations to learn about the COVID experience."
She refers back to the Spanish Flu that happened about 100 years ago.
"That is why we are collecting, actively collecting during this pandemic because...we actually have very few artifacts or archival materials that tell that story."
The latest collection is part of The Story of Us: The Pikes Peak Region from A-Z, and it's going to be completely virtual.
Mannion said, "We turned "Y" equals Your COVID-19 Story to invite people to submit photographs, even oral histories or movies...you name it, objects that record their experience during this time."
She shared that the museum has received about four submissions. One is from local photographer Lauren McKenzie.
"She just submitted nearly 90 digital photographs of people on their front porch during the stay-at-home order," said Mannion.
Another submission included "a photograph of empty grocery store shelves and it happened to be the cleaning aisle."
There is also artwork from local students. The launch date for presenting the collection is still to be determined.
Mannion said, "Obviously we would love many, many more. We want everyone to know that their story is important."
CLICK HEREto learn more about the Y is for Your COVID-19 Story Collection.
