There is history in the making at any given moment. The life events, triumphs, and tragedies we’re currently experiencing as a result of the coronavirus is proof.
As the main local resource for information on historical events and their impact on the region, the Talbot Historical Society is seeking to document this moment in history. We don’t want to look back on this time and wish that we had collected more pictures, saved more items, and written down individual stories. Living during this historic event gives us an opportunity to start collecting relevant primary sources immediately. This has now become a mission for us at THS.
We are looking for experiences people might want to share in photographs or in writing. Experiences such as family activities, homeschooling, working from home, grocery store senior hours, restaurant deliveries and pickups, empty store shelves, pandemic signs on businesses that are closed, social distance warning signs on places that are open, photographs of empty church parking lots on Sunday, empty school playgrounds, personal stories, crafts and artwork made during the lockdown, screenshots of home meetings, social distancing birthday parties, and virtual graduations to name just a few.
You can journal about your feelings or observations of these events, or send in photos and audio recordings. If you are an essential worker during this time we’d love to have a record your experiences. Were you one of the many stressing over toilet paper and Clorox wipes? Are you aware that the sales of sewing machines, jigsaw puzzles and bicycles have rocketed in the pandemic? Are you one that learned to sew during this time of stay at home orders? Did you purchase a new bike or pull out an old one and pump up the tires? Were puzzle marathons a thing? Did the closing of restaurants and coffee shops encourage you to become a better cook and pastry chef?
All of your photos, writings, and objects will tell the story of the social and economic impact of the pandemic in our county. Our goal is to put together a collective memory of this time in our history. Submissions can be emailed to collections@
This amazing video, donated by Myra Neal Photography, highlights some of the ways that the pandemic has affected life in Talbot County.
What Can I Donate?
We would like to accept a wide variety of texts, photos, and items related to the coronavirus pandemic in Talbot County. These can be items that you created, or items you have found or seen. Please use this list as inspiration, not limitation! We would love to see the creativity and different experiences of our county.
- Writings
- Diaries, journal entries, poems, stories, anecdotes, etc.
- Photographs
- Closed businesses, socially distanced events, work, school, or church from home, signage in stores, restaurants, and other public places, people wearing masks, learning new hobbies
- Videos
- Video blogs, recordings of socially distanced or virtual events
- Audio recordings
- Audio journaling, musical recordings
- Art
- Paintings, collages, sculptures, drawings, fiber arts, sewing
- Medical Implements
- Homemade face masks, personal protective equipment, testing kits
- *NOTE* please only donate items you no longer need, we do not want to take items that are still needed to protect your health and safety.
- Signage and Notices
- Closed business signs, social distancing protocol signs, cancelled event flyers, public health decrees, housing notices
- And More
- Direct mail related to coronavirus, modified lesson plans, carry-out food menus, digital event invites, items connected to new hobbies or interests in lockdown
This display in our front window was made to thank some of Talbot County’s essential workers who have been working throughout the pandemic
How Do I Donate?
To donate digital items, please email your files to If you are submitting physical items, please email or call us at 410-822-1287 to schedule an appointment to donate these items.
Please download this “Deed of Gift” form, fill it out, and either attach it to your email, or bring a copy with you to your scheduled drop off appointment. We ask that you fill this out as completely as possible, as it allows us to properly credit you if we use your donation for an exhibit, and to know the history of the item.
As we are an organization with limited storage and a limited scope, we reserve the right to decline any donation.
If you have any questions regarding this project, please contact us through email
Cathy Hill and grandsons enjoy an outing at Kiln Born.
These pictures, donated by General Manager Peggy Morey and Vice President Cathy Hill, show some examples of pictures we would like for our collections.