Committed to the preservation of history, former Blaine County Museum Director, Jude Sheppard has been serving as a member of the Montana Historical Society Board of Trustees since her retirement. The position allows her to remain connected to the promotion of educational programs and services so that Montanans might have an understanding of and an appreciation for their cultural heritage—past, present, and future.

One of her colleagues in the Montana Historical Society (MHS) Research Center, State Archivist Jodie Foley has been busy archiving COVID-19 records for historians. With Foley’s assistance, the MHS is capturing the thoughts, stories, and images of Montanans as we navigate life during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Two surveys were launched in March, one for students and one for adults. As part of an invitation to share today's stories with future generations, participants are adding their voices to the historical record. Comprised of multiple questions, the ongoing surveys are gathering information from several topic areas, including what challenges and changes people are facing, how the pandemic is affecting jobs or altering the atmosphere in communities, and what families are doing to cope.

Responders can also upload photos, artwork, poems, videos, or other media to inform future generations about the COVID-19 experience. Foley reported that by the end of June, over 370 responses had been received—213 from students and 164 from the general public. “Responses have come from many smaller communities like Arlee, Harlem, and Wibaux, as well as Montana’s larger cities like Billings, Helena, and Missoula,” she said.

According to Foley, students spoke about missing friends, teachers, and school events when listing challenges or disappointments. Non-students listed loneliness, anxiety, and feeling cooped up and cut off from loved ones.

People commented on the quiet streets, expressed concerns for local businesses, and noted various support efforts, including signs in windows thanking healthcare workers or colorful hearts expressing hope that we’ll survive this crisis. Some rest areas also have care boxes and notes expressing gratitude for truck drivers.

Answers to questions about changes brought by COVID-19 centered on the economic impact, the imposed focus on what is important like family and relationships, and changing definitions of heroes.

Coping tools often involved using technology to connect with family and friends, including online video chats and social media. Walks, hikes, and other outdoor activities were also common.

When asked what they wanted to share with future Montanans, the responses varied, but many focused on hope for lessons learned:

“I hope that folks in the future can look back on this time and say, ‘People back then really used this crisis as an opportunity to focus on what truly matters, and to heal the political and socioeconomic wounds that were laid bare by the virus.’”

Anyone wishing to share personal thoughts and experiences related to COVID-19 can do so by visiting https://mhs.mt.gov/about/QuarantineActivities. Once at the website, visitors will find not only links to the survey for sharing experiences (one for students and one for adults) but also activities related to such topics as cooking, testing their Montana knowledge, taking a virtual field trip, or gaining strength by learning more about earlier tough times weathered by Montanans.

Individuals who answer this call from history by submitting the survey form and any attachments (i.e. photos, artwork, poems, videos, or other media images) will be conveying any literary rights and copyrights held by the donor to the Montana Historical Society (MHS). This ensures MHS’s ability to add these materials to their collections and to share the stories with this generation and those to come.

Using the COVID-19 Archive Survey as an invitation to add their voices to the historical record, the Montana Historical Society Research Center wants to connect Montanans from the present to the future.