We at The Buffalo History Museum are dedicated to discovering and safekeeping the stories of our community. Held within our collections and entrusted to our care are stories of hardship, loss, challenge, and perseverance. As we navigate through these difficult times, we will continue to collect and ensure that the experiences of our community are preserved for later generations.

All lives have been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. By recording how the virus has changed our daily life, we can safekeep the stories to provide valuable insight for future generations. Your contributions ensure evidence of this time for future research, reference, projects, exhibits, and programs. Are you keeping a COVID-19 journal? Have you taken a porch portrait of your family? We encourage you to share and donate items to document these experiences.

You can document and share your experiences in many ways, including but not limited to:

• Postcards from the Pandemic: Postcards or notecards that provide your insights, feelings, and thoughts during the pandemic. Original artwork can also be accepted at a preferred size of card stock no larger than 4×6. There are various options to send postcards, should you have none on hand that include MyPostcard, Touchnote, Postsnap, and Postcardly.
• Digital Survey: Participate in an online survey available.
• Photo Submissions: Send your photos dated and appropriately identified (location and the names of those in the photo). Photos can be mailed or submitted digitally to covid19@buffalohistory.org
• Journals: Record your perspectives on daily life during the pandemic in a journal or notebook.

All postcards, photos, journals, and paper objects chronicling your COVID-19 experiences can be mailed directly to the Museum at the following address:
The Buffalo History Museum
c/o “Collecting COVID-19 Stories”
1 Museum Court
Buffalo, NY, 14216

Girl Scouts never give up.

Orchard Park Troop 30248 was committed to its Bronze Award project. After last year’s damaging storms, the girls imagined an initiative that would help re-tree their community, “Re-Tree OP”. They brainstormed, researched, planned, and prepared. And even in the face of COVID-19, these girls and their troop leaders were creative and resilient. While they were not able to have their planned community pick-up event, the girls – accompanied by their parents – conducted mailbox/porch tree drop-offs (with troop-created notes of explanation and planting instructions) to interested neighbors on Saturday, May 2, 2020. This was done using masks and all recommended social distancing protocols, and each girl was clearly recognizable in her uniform. As a result of the troop’s efforts, 350 trees were distributed and planted despite the pandemic.

Submitted by our member Jennifer

By submitting any COVID-19 materials including but not limited to the forms listed above, you are agreeing to the terms based on our Deed of Gift and contained within this disclaimer document.

Thank you for your consideration and for contributing to our community. We look forward to hearing from you.

Should you have any questions, concerns, or thoughts about the initiative, please send an email to covid19@buffalohistory.org.