Project Description:
History Colorado launched the COVID-19 collecting project on March 25, 2020 in conjunction with the Colorado Media Project, an organization of 40 media groups across Colorado tasked with spreading word of the initiative. Branded under the title "History in the Making," the focus of the project was to begin documenting Coloradans' stories about the novel Coronavirus and its effect on their lives. Staff involved with the project concluded that collecting in real time as the novel Coronavirus spread was an efficient, proactive, and inclusive way to document the crisis, and to ensure that both contemporary and future generations could appreciate the stories of those who experienced it first hand. Items considered for collecting included surveys, journals, audio recordings, photographs, videos, and other artifacts related to the pandemic to preserve and make available to the public. The general public was asked to contribute material directly to History Colorado and to share their stories through email, online surveys, journal submissions, and (socially distanced) community activities . Extensive efforts were also made by staff to reach out to communities throughout Colorado, including school groups, cultural organizations, and geographic regions across the state. Collecting for the COVID-19 project is ongoing as of May 2020.
Item Description: Photograph taken on April 14, 2020 of Denver Sweet during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sweet Denver is a LGBTQ bar located on Lincoln Street in Denver. At time photograph was taken, Denver Sweet was temporarily closed due to the novel Coronavirus pandemic. Message board on side of building reads, "THINGS WILL BE SWEET AGAIN." Mural consists of figure with blonde hair, wearing blue eye shadow, earring and three varieties of necklaces. Three pairs of arms of different skin tones reach out from behind figure; all hands catch a single drop of blood. Two-tone, yellow sun and green rays behind figure. Mural by artist Lindee Zimmer to raise HIV awareness; painted in December 2019 before COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were implemented in Colorado. History Colorado activity reference number SPH.COVID.0022.