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Southeast Ohio History Center and WOUB Partner on COVID-19 History Project


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ATHENS, OH – WOUB Public Media is partnering with the Southeast Ohio History Center to capture history in the making. It’s called the COVID-19 History project.

“Amid the COVID-19/Coronavirus outbreak, the Southeast Ohio History Center started online collection of stories from the region of southeast Ohio and Appalachia, including oral histories, photographs, video recordings, diaries, letters, clothing, and historical objects that speak to the experiences people in the region are having during this time,” said Southeast Ohio History Center Executive Director Jessica Cyders.

The website can be found here: https://athenshistory.org/covid-19-history-project/  Cyders said they have received many submissions but most of them are coming from the Athens area where the center is located.

“We want to get submissions from the entire region and that’s where the partnership with WOUB was born,” said Cyders. “WOUB’s radio and television signals reach throughout southeastern Ohio and if people hear about it on WOUB, hopefully they will be inspired to participate.”

“When we heard about this project it made a lot of sense for WOUB to partner with the History Center to let people in the region know about this project,” said WOUB Producer/Director Evan Shaw. “At WOUB we create documentaries and programs about the history of this region and know how important first-person accounts are in being able to tell the story. We are excited to be able to help the History Center collect this information as history is being made.”

Digital collection of these items on the History Center’s website supports quarantine and “social distancing” efforts while still recording this unique historic event. The information provided will contribute to the historical record, giving future researchers primary sources, and documenting an important moment in local and world history. Items collected could be used for future displays at the History Center or for future content produced by WOUB.