Pandemic Primary Source Sets

Investigate pandemics through local historic images, documents, and artifacts

Created by a collaboration between the Maine Historical Society, Maine State Archives, Maine State Library, and Maine State Museum.

How do people carry on with life during a pandemic?

How do information and misinformation spread during a pandemic?

ls it right to control people's actions during a pandemic?

How do pandemics impact different people in different ways?

NOTE- this topic is document-heavy and may not be a good fit for students who struggle with reading comprehension.

Additional Resources:

Pandemic Informational Chart

Pandemic Timeline

Rainey Morrissey’s Story: Letters from a Maine TB Patient (great option for a simple, stand-alone class activity)

Smithsonian Resource: COVID-19 and History

Having trouble understanding the documents? Copy/paste them into Rewordify.

TROUBLE GETTING STARTED?

Let us help in your classroom

Our educators are ready to provide you with any help you need as you work with your students. The video below provides an introduction to these materials and how to use them in the classroom.

Contact

For help or to learn more, contact Lead Educator Kate Webber at kate.webber@maine.gov

Credits

Project Interns:

  • Emma Soler, Bates College
  • Devon Berkeley, Colby College
  • Stella Margarita Gonzalez, Colby College
  • Annie Martin, Colby College

Content Editor: 

  • Misa Beltran-Guzman, Colby College 

Partner Organizations: Maine Department of Education, Maine State Archives, Maine State Library, Maine State Museum, Maine Historical Society