The Shared History Program at the University of Nevada, Reno requests materials from the public, capturing both the daily and exceptional moments of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. All community members living across Nevada and the Tahoe Sierra are invited to submit digital materials. The Shared History Program also seeks the donation and/or loan of objects related to the pandemic. Community submissions will form the backbone of a reflective exhibit. The deadline to submit materials is Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020.

The Shared History Program of the Department of History in the College of Liberal Arts prioritizes community collaboration and the shared construction of knowledge. The program works with University students, faculty and community members to present inclusive and innovative stories of history. These historical collections are often displayed as exhibits in the Shared History gallery on the University campus.

“This era is going to be deeply transformative for this generation and we don’t yet know how,” Christopher von Nagy, director of the Shared History Program, said. “While we can’t predict these changes, we can document the current moments of history through which we are living. We’re hoping this project helps with that.”

The program plans to release a digital version of the exhibit later this year and anticipates an in-person exhibit for Fall 2021.

The program seeks images, videos, journal entries and other digital materials that reflect life in America during the pandemic – pictures of homemade masks, photos of a Do-It-Yourself haircut, a socially distanced picnic, scenes of school or work at home, reflections of recent social and political protests, a Zoom video meeting screen-shot, recipes, social media posts and more.

The Shared History program is committed to including diverse voices, experiences and perspectives. Project Leader Sara Garey-Sage said, “Ordinary moments and stories are a vital part of the historical record. We want to capture these peak moments of historical change and also understand what daily life looked like for a variety of Nevadans.”

For more information or to submit materials, please email sharedhistory@unr.edu.