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Physically Apart, Socially Together

The SDSU and Brookings Experience of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Physically Apart, Socially Together: The SDSU and Brookings Experience of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Images of empty classrooms and Zoom meetings.

Gathering the Stories of the Coronavirus Outbreak

The South Dakota State University Archives & Special Collections invites Jackrabbits and area community members to participate in “Physically Apart, Socially Together: The SDSU and Brookings Experience of the COVID-19 Pandemic.” SDSU students, faculty, staff, alumni, and Brookings area residents and businesses are encouraged to share their stories of life during the historic novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. These personal accounts will be preserved by the Archives for future research and scholarship.

Participation

Studies, work, research, home lives, and significant events have been impacted by COVID-19. Tell us about how your daily life has changed, how you are feeling, how you are keeping in touch with others, and what plans you had to adjust.

Contributors can record their stories in any way they choose, and submit as frequently as they desire. Some examples include:

  • Journal entries and poems
  • Photographs and artwork
  • Social media posts, blogs, and digital storytelling
  • Video and audio recordings
  • Images and descriptions of work-at-home environments
  • Recipes or notes about meals made during the pandemic
  • Faculty notes about the transition to online classes
  • Business documents showing the response to the crisis, such as announcements, correspondence, or adapted restaurant menus for pickup/delivery

Physical items that are a part of those stories can also be donated, such as homemade face masks.

The Archives will accept submissions throughout and after the pandemic period. The materials will be reviewed by Archives staff before being added to the “Physically Apart, Socially Together” collection.

Physically Apart, Socially Together: The SDSU and Brookings Experience of the COVID-19 Pandemic

If issues arise submitting digital materials via the online form please submitted by sending SDSU Archives and Special Collections an e-mail (arcrefs@sdstate.edu). Physical materials may be mailed to:

 

SDSU Archives & Special Collections
1300 North Campus Drive
Box 2115
Brookings, SD 57007

 

For questions, please contact arcrefs@sdstate.edu. If you are interested in donating to a COVID-19 archives collection but are not from the SDSU or Brookings area communities, you can donate to the South Dakota State Historical Society's project Telling Your Story: Documenting COVID-19 in South Dakota.

While documenting stories, please observe social distancing and other recommended safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.


 

Thank you

Your submission is an important way of documenting this historic event as it unfolds. The Archives appreciates your contribution to this collection. For updates on the university’s COVID-19 response or to get support, please visit COVID-19 response page.