In May 2023, the American Folklife Center launched the COVID-19 American History Project (CAHP) – a Congressionally mandated initiative to document and build an archive of Americans’ experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on the experiences of frontline workers. CAHP documentarians interviewed a range of workers who were at the frontlines of the pandemic. These include hospitality professionals in New Orleans, childcare workers in Appalachia, and funeral professionals. Future interviews will include truck drivers, pilots, and other frontline workers from across the United States. Taken together, these workers’ stories will serve as a snapshot of what it was like to live and work in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

All Americans can record their COVID-19 experiences and have them added to the COVID-19 American History Project collection. To learn more about this opportunity, visit the American Folklife Center’s Archive Activation page.

CAHP collections available online featuring workers and occupations include: