Help the MCHC Document History in the Making BALTIMORE, Md. (November 30, 2020) – COVID cases are surging, and states are again shutting borders, just as the holidays approach. The Maryland Center for History and Culture (MCHC) is reinvigorating its Collecting in Quarantine initiative, first launched in spring 2020. The initiative is meant to collect Marylanders’ stories about their experiences during this global pandemic. The collection is now also open to physical items—appointments can be made to drop these tokens of COVID-times off at the MCHC. Dedicated to being a space where the community can come to discover a deeper understand of the nation’s history and culture through a Maryland prism, the 176-year-old museum and library is as committed to preserving and interpreting historic objects and stories, as it is to collecting history as it happens. “In addition to the centuries old artifacts we have in our care, we want to continue to collect and preserve the history that is being made now, today,” said Allison Tolman, Vice President of Collections & Interpretation at the Maryland Center for History and Culture. “What we are experiencing, and what we are using to get ourselves through this time—including handmade masks, journals, photos and more—are important documentation for future generations.” The MCHC asks Marylanders to think about their COVID pandemic experiences. How is the novel coronavirus pandemic impacting their lives? More information about how and what to submit and donate can be found here. The Maryland Center for History and Culture’s museum is now open with limited hours and capacity due to COVID-19. The library is currently closed for in-person research appointments, but the library staff is accessible by email at specialcollections@mdhistory.org, or by phone at 410-685-3750, ext. 359, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
