Pandemic Perspectives
Pandemic Perspectives: Stories Through Collections
Smithsonian's National Museum of American History
Tuesday Colloquium
Join Via Zoom 4 - 5 p.m. ET
Join curators and historians for an engaging series of panel discussions offering perspectives on the current pandemic. Panelists will virtually share objects from the past as a springboard to a lively discussion of how to better understand the present. Audience questions are encouraged and will be addressed in the moderated dialogue.
Previously Recorded Sessions
September 29, 2020: Fear and Scapegoating during a Pandemic
Moderator:
Alexandra Lord, PhD, National Museum of American History
Panelists:
Theodore Gonzalves, PhD, National Museum of American History
Erika Lee, PhD, University of Minnesota
Natalia Molina, PhD, University of Southern California
Watch the recorded session
October 6, 2020 Pandemic Pursuits: How Your Ancestors Had Fun at Home
Moderator:
Arthur Daemmrich, PhD, National Museum of American History
Panelists:
Kenneth Cohen, PhD, University of Delaware
Carlene Stephens, National Museum of American History
Richard Levy, Game Inventor
Watch the recorded session
November 3, 2020: Voting During a Pandemic
Moderator:
Peter Liebhold, National Museum of American History
Panelists:
Jon Grinspan, PhD, National Museum of American History
Lynn Heidelbaugh, National Postal Museum
Duchess Harris, PhD, Macalester College
Watch the recorded session
November 24, 2020: Comfort Food During a Pandemic
Moderator:
Peter Liebhold, National Museum of American History
Panelists:
Ashley Rose Young, PhD, National Museum of American History
Ximena Martin, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes
Watch the recorded session
December 1, 2020: Public History During a Pandemic: Collecting COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter
Moderator:
Alexandra Lord, PhD, National Museum of American History
Panelists:
Anne Madarasz, PhD, Heinz History Center
Rebecca Klassen, New York Historical Society
Jason Hanson, History Colorado
Watch the recorded session
December 15, 2020: Looking Good on that Zoom Call: Personal Appearance During a Quarantine
Moderator:
Arthur Daemmrich, PhD, National Museum of American History
Panelists:
Crystal Moten, PhD, National Museum of American History
Claire Jerry, PhD, National Museum of American History
Gwen Kay, PhD, SUNY-Oswego
Watch the recorded session
January 5, 2021: Racing for Vaccines
Moderator:
Keith Wailoo, PhD, Princeton University
Panelists:
Paul Offit, MD, University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Diane Wendt, National Museum of American History
Col (Ret) John Grabenstein, PhD, founder, Vaccine Dynamics
Watch the recorded session
January 19, 2021: Mask Up!
Moderator:
Peter Liebhold, National Museum of American History
Panelists:
Alexandra Lord, PhD, National Museum of American History
Michelle McClellan, PhD, Bentley Library, University of Michigan
Clara Berg, Museum of History and Industry
Watch the recorded session
February 2, 2021: Race and Place: Yellow Fever and the Free African Society in Philadelphia
Moderator:
Alexandra Lord, PhD, National Museum of American History
Panelists:
David Barnes, PhD, University of Pennsylvania
Vanessa Northington Gamble, M.D., PhD, George Washington University
Simon Finger, PhD, The College of New Jersey
Watch the recorded session
February 16, 2021: Essential Workers: Prestige Versus Pay
Moderator:
Alexandra Lord, PhD, National Museum of American History
Panelists:
Peter Liebhold, National Museum of American History
Molly Kinder, Brookings Institute
Jacob Remes, New York University, Gallatin
Watch the recorded session
March 23, 2021: How the National Museum of American History is Collecting COVID-19
Moderator:
Arthur Daemmrich, PhD, National Museum of American History
Panelists:
Shannon Perich, National Museum of American History
Alexandra Lord, PhD, National Museum of American History
Benjamin Filene, PhD, National Museum of American History
Watch the recorded session
Related Content
Historians will remember 2020—a time of pandemic, economic crisis, police violence, and protest. Here’s your chance to be heard—by your national museum, by your fellow Americans, and by the future. Share your 2020 story.
This website explores over 1,000 objects related to the history of vaccines, serums, antitoxins, diagnostics, and other therapies, which all employ the power of antibodies to protect and improve health.
