Updated March 24, 2020, 5:17 p.m
John Laidler can be reached at laidler@globe.com.
Stacen Goldman, a curator with the center, came up with the idea for the archive and is overseeing the initiative. “This digital journal will create a primary source that can be used by future generations to learn about this crisis from your unique perspective,” the center said in an announcement of the initiative. To initiate a journal, go to the center’s website, framinghamhistory.org.
“I hope that this archive will be available to inform future generations but I also hope that the process of creating journals and submitting photos helps people feel heard and seen,” Goldman said, “because it’s such an important thing during such a time of trouble as we are going through now.”
Established in 1888 as the Framingham Natural History and Historical Society, the center offers a variety of public events, lectures, exhibitions, and tours related to Framingham’s history. It also maintains an extensive collection of documents and artifacts. In addition to the digital archive initiative, the center has created some online history-related activities to engage students while they are home due to the pandemic, and some staff recommendations for history-related books and movies for all community members to enjoy.