Summer 2020: Viral History

 
"Viral History: Documenting COVID-19 and Doing the History of the Present "
with Elizabeth Drummond, associate professor and chair of history

Monday, July 27, 2020 | 12 p.m.

Professor Drummond will discuss the role of historians in documenting, archiving, and interpreting the COVID-19 pandemic in the broader context of the practice of public history. What does it mean to be a "historian of the present" – to bring a historical perspective and historical analysis to contemporary problems, as a means to help us understand and represent the history of COVID-19, as well as to help shape public policy responses? What artifacts from today will be of greatest significance for future historians in understanding this moment in our history? Please come to the webinar with an artifact (photograph, piece of material culture, document) that captures something about COVID-19 for you – and don't all bring masks!