A chance to contribute to the COVID-19 Collection in the East Riding

Mon 1st June 2020
East Riding 1

East Riding Archives are asking residents to share their memories of the COVID-19 lockdown period in a new COVID-19 collection, which will be preserved for the benefit of future generations.

The archives team are looking for items like photographs of people’s daily lives; pictures of empty streets; pictures and recordings of the ‘Clap for Carers’ on Thursday evenings, or other thanks for NHS and key workers; pictures of rainbows in windows; or even diaries with notes about what people have been doing during lockdown.

Archivist Hannah Stamp said: “As well as photos and pictures, if anyone has written any poetry or stories relating to their lockdown experiences, these would be ideal, too. We are also keen to receive video logs, audio recordings and digital photos.

“How are you coping with being in lockdown? How has your local area and community changed? What does your day look like? We would like to hear from all members of our local East Riding community to create a full picture of how people are now living and working.”

Councillor Shaun Horton, portfolio holder for tourism, leisure and culture, explained:  “In common with other archives in other places, we are keen to create this collection as part of our responsibility to record the lives of everyday people in the community. I'm hoping it will be a very useful resource in the future. We know these are very difficult times for many people, but we should record this unique period in our social and economic history for future generations to learn from.”

The records for the collection can be in a written, printed or digital format.

East Riding Archives are following the Government health guidelines and the Archives Service in the Treasure House in Beverley is currently closed to visitors. Contributors are asked to keep any items safely until The Treasure House can reopen and staff are available to take receipt of them.

Please contact the Archives Team with any queries at archives.service@eastriding.gov.uk and find out more at: https://eastridingarchives.blog/2020/05/04/the-east-riding-covid-19-archive/

Just Beverley