Help create a 'living archive'

Gloucestershire Archives at Gloucestershire Heritage Hub gathers, keeps and shares the documented heritage of Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire. For the first time in 80 years we have had to temporarily close our doors to the public but our work goes on!  We now need your help to create a ‘living archive’ of life during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We’d like to encourage you to pick up a pen or pencil, open a Word document or take up your phone and record your experiences, thoughts or feelings about this remarkable time in our lives.

You may already be a regular diarist. Your children may be recording their experiences as part of their home learning. You may have a few extra minutes to spare and find it useful to have a creative outlet. You could write as an individual or as part of a household.  All ages are invited to contribute.

There is no right or wrong way to keep a diary. The most important thing is that it reflects how you are feeling. You could start by describing what you have been doing to keep busy and who or what you are missing from daily life. Have you been experimenting with new technology to communicate with relatives living elsewhere?  Are you learning new skills or rediscovering old pastimes? Do you listen to the daily news bulletins?  Describe your feelings including your worries and fears.  What has made you angry? Share also what has amused you or cheered you up. You could include drawings, photographs, sketches and snippets from social media if you feel so inclined.

We would also like your help in collecting other material that you might come across such as:

• Leaflets/flyers/posters from District Councils and other local government institutions about the pandemic
• Material from local business relating to closures or changes to how they operate
• Advice from local organisations about hygiene, social distancing and self-isolation
• Information about community efforts to help vulnerable and isolated persons
• Information from local schools regarding closures and home-schooling
• Photographs which show the pandemic’s impact (see note 1. below)

We ask that material for deposit should be written, printed, or digital (audio or film). We are unable to accept objects into the archive.

It is important that you do not risk your own or anyone else’s health whilst gathering this material. All government guidelines regarding hygiene, social distancing and self-isolation should be followed.

And as we aren’t able to take in these records at the moment, we ask that you hold on to any material until we re-open. Perhaps you could put them aside in a folder or envelope marked ‘for Gloucestershire Archives’. Please contact us about the best way to transfer your digital files.

For further information please contact Claire Collins email: archives@gloucestershire.gov.uk

To find out more about our collections go to: www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/archives or search our online catalogue

1. Please note that when photographing you should ensure that anyone who may appear in the image is either happy to be photographed or is unidentifiable.