As you have probably heard it said, we are living in extraordinary times. Since it is our mission at the Sunnyvale Historical Society and Museum Association to document and preserve Sunnyvale history for future generations, we need your help.
Since March 17th, residents of Sunnyvale and six other Bay Area counties began sheltering in place to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 pandemic. How drastically our world has changed in such a short period of time! We’d like you to help us record how this pandemic has affected all of us, so that we can tell the story for generations to come.
Photo taken in the Nimitz neighborhood.
Though you may not realize it, you’re probably already been documenting this time of constant change. Perhaps you’ve taken a photo of something that makes you feel more connected while self-isolating, then posted it on social media. Maybe you’ve seen a poster in a house window, came across a message written in chalk on a sidewalk while out for a walk, or in some other way have connected with the rapidly changing world in the wake of the Coronavirus.
The images and stories that are collected now are what we remember, so in the coming weeks, we hope that when you take a photo or video, create a social media post, lesson plan, letter, etc., that you will share it with us via our online form so that we can document this pandemic for future generations to remember and research.
“Rush hour” at Mathilda Avenue and Sunnyvale Saratoga Road
If you’re having a hard time thinking of things that you or your family might be able to contribute, our friends at the Atlanta History Center, who are working on their own local documenting, have some topics to kickstart your brainstorming:
Medical Professionals: How has your work changed? What are your concerns for yourself and your family? What innovations have you seen or worked with?
Service & Safety Personnel: How have your work procedures and practices shifted? How are you staying safe? Have you received support from your community?
Local Businesses: How have you changed your offerings? How has your business changed? What support are you getting? How will this impact you long term?
Education: Teachers and students, how have you changed your approach to learning? What are your struggles/triumphs? How are you dealing with this change to your learning community? How did your school, college, or university respond?
Leisure & Recreation: How are you handling social interactions during this time? Have you learned a new skill or hobby? How have you spent your leisure time?
Neighbors: How are your neighbors supporting each other? What changes have been made to current social offerings? Have your relationships with your neighbors changed?
Caregivers: How has your work changed? What resources have been made available to you?
Travel: Have you had a trip cancelled or changed? How are your future travel plans changing? Have you traveled during the outbreak? What changes have you seen in the travel sector?
Home & Garden: What changes to your home or garden have happened during this time? How are you using your extra time at home? What have you learned about yourself?
Pregnancy & Child Care: How has your day-to-day changed? How has your partner supported you? Are you homeschooling?
Recipes, Cooking, & Food Delivery: How are you eating? Have you taken this opportunity to hone kitchen skills? What food services are you supporting? How has your relationship to food changed?
We encourage you to look through your photos, emails, social feeds, and media posts from the past few weeks to share what you might have already captured—and to continue to share these types of materials in the weeks to come.
Stay well!
Collections and Archive Team
Sunnyvale Historical Society and Museum Association