Galena-Jo Daviess County Historical Society documents history during pandemic

GALENA–The Galena-Jo Daviess County Historical Society and Galena & U.S. Grant Museum takes very seriously its role in preserving history. And that role is perhaps no more important than right now, in the midst of a global pandemic.

Nancy Breed, executive director, said that staff are being very mindful of the role the museum plays in documenting what is taking place in the community and the decisions being made.

Recently, while Jean Matthiessen, administrative assistant for the society, was reviewing a recording of the March 16 board meeting as she compiled minutes, she was struck by how telling the recording was in terms of the weight of the decisions being made.

“She commented to me, ‘The recording conveys deep concern for our visitors and staff, our community and the nation. It is really very touching to hear board members and staff discussing how to keep people safe in a rapidly shifting environment. You can hear the compassion, empathy and concern in their voices,’” Breed shared.

Taking Matthiessen’s comments into consideration, museum staff decided to accession a digital recording of the meeting for the museum’s permanent collection. Doug Frank, marketing director, created a digital file.

During the meeting, the discussion ranged from global impact of the virus to financial details of a non-profit struggling to cover payroll and ongoing expenses, Breed said. There were lighthearted moments during 51-minute portion of the meeting, angst was the underlying emotion. The result of the meeting was to cease Society operations and events until further notice as of midnight that day, March 16. A state-wide shelter-in-place order went into effect a few days later and all staff were furloughed for six weeks.

So much has changed since the meeting took place, Breed said, that making it a part of history is even more important.

Breed explained that while the museum has an extensive oral history collection, featuring over 300 recordings, they are all individual memories. This meeting excerpt changes that.

“This is the first time there’s been an opportunity to capture that moment in time for an organization facing a global pandemic,” said Breed.

The museum will also accession a bottle of Blaum Bros. Distillery hand sanitizer, to show how the local business transitioned to meet a need.

Breed would also like to accession the gown pattern Galena resident Jack Kirkby created at the request of Dr. Ralph Losey, chief medical officer at Midwest Medical Center. She feels the pattern will help to tell the story of ingenuity during a time when personal protective equipment was in short supply.

“How we as a community pulled together to find local solutions is, I think, wonderful,” said Breed.

Breed explained that the items, and others yet to be determined, will be part of the historical society collection in perpetuity.

“We will create safe storage for them, provide for their climate control, inventory them, and make them available to the general public,” she said.

Breed and other museum staff are open to suggestions from community members of other items that should perhaps be accessioned. She’s watching what other museums are collecting and has noticed artwork and letters from children, which is a possibility here as well.