When Wisconsin began its Safer at Home order in March, Madison Public Library Community Engagement Librarian and Madison Living History Project leader Laura Damon-Moore developed an oral history-focused project to document the pandemic’s impact on people’s lives. Stories from a Distance strives to offer all Madisonians an opportunity to share their experiences. Damon-Moore said she hopes it will amplify the voices of those disproportionately affected so their experiences become part of Madison’s official collective history.
“It’s fresh in people’s minds right now, and someday we’re going to want to look back on this moment and think about what were the days leading up to the Safer at Home order like, and what was the feeling and the tension — if there was tension — what was that experience of living that moment like?” said Damon-Moore, who recently began a new position with Wisconsin Library Services.
The project is funded with a Madison Public Library Foundation grant.
Read the 42 oral histories collected so far and consider sharing your story at madisonlivinghistory.org/stories.