We thank Asha Isable, a 2026 LOCI Intern with the Library’s American Folklife Center, for this post.
The COVID-19 pandemic was a global crisis that affected many aspects of daily life including school, work, and social activities. Americans who worked through the COVID-19 pandemic had to follow new precautions, face unexpected challenges, and welcome creative changes to continue their work. The COVID-19 American History Project offers students and teachers access to the experiences and stories of frontline workers who helped keep the nation moving during this unprecedented time.
About the Collection
In 2022, the U.S. Congress passed a law directing the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress to collect, preserve, and share the personal stories and testimonies of Americans affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 American History Project, the result of this mandate, features oral histories that serve as important primary sources for educators teaching about workers, public health, and American response in times of crisis.
Using the Collection
The collection includes interviews with a wide range of professionals and workers, including first responders, service workers, public health professionals, pilots and others. Many interviews include experiences that connect to lessons on American moments of crisis, including service and risk, loss and remembrance, and helping vulnerable communities.
Analyzing Oral Histories as Primary Sources
Students may listen to one or more interview excerpts from the COVID-19 American History Project and analyze them using questions selected from the Library’s Teacher’s Guide for Analyzing Oral Histories to guide their thinking. Ask them to compare thoughts in pairs or small groups. Choose from the interviews listed below or search the collection by location or subject to find interviews that connect with classroom topics.
- Elissa Early and Debra Jacobs Interview. [02:40-06:58] Elissa is a school nurse at a large public high school in Tucson, Arizona.
- Stuart Sherman and John Gulotta Interview. [01:04-05:30] Stuart Sherman serves as a firefighter/EMT, while John Gulotta serves as a firefighter and Safety Captain with the Tucson Fire Department.
- Ingrid Brown and Jonathan Zelinger Interview. [18:31-22:00] Ingrid Brown is a career long-haul trucker who drives supplies across America.
- Alma Perez and Gerry Brisson Interview. [01:46 – 6:02] Alma works as volunteer and coordinator serving families at a local food bank.
Focus students’ attention by asking: What details do they notice about the speaker’s voice, speech or tone? Does it sound like an interview or a conversation? What phrases or statements stand out?
Then ask students to think and reflect about what they heard. Ask: What is the significance of this person’s story? What clues indicate how they feel? What was the purpose of this oral history?
Allow time for students to share their thoughts and questions about the interview. Ask: What questions do you have after listening? What else would you like to know about the speaker or their experiences?
Encourage students to think critically about oral histories by asking: What can oral histories reveal about people’s experiences that other sources, such as photographs or written letters, may not? What are the limitations of using oral histories as the only source? As time allows, students can explore additional interviews from the COVID collection, review transcripts, and compare workers’ experiences.
Unlike many historical events, COVID-19 is a shared experience for many students. The project allows educators to connect students’ experiences with the stories of frontline workers and others who lived through the pandemic. Students might think about other jobs, regions, or subjects they would like to explore and choose an interview from the collection to investigate further.
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