University Archives documents unprecedented times, finds parallels with flu pandemic
Over 100 years after the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 disrupted operations on the Carnegie Mellon University campus, the university found itself once again adjusting to a new normal with the move to online instruction and closure of many campus facilities as a result of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
The impact of COVID-19 on Carnegie Mellon shares similarities to the Spanish flu pandemic. The University Archives — home to materials documenting the history of the university, including the events of 1918 — are taking steps to record this remarkable moment.
According to documents from the Archives, the university was quarantined in October 1918 to help slow the spread of the flu.
"It is not clear how big of an impact the quarantine had on the daily lives of students, faculty and staff as there is almost no mention of it in 'The Tartan' newspaper from this period," said Emily Davis, project archivist. "However, there is some evidence of the flu's impact in various administrative records, like when the school funded a new infirmary to care for the sick, and refunded students the cost of dormitories that they had to vacate due to the pandemic."
At the time of the outbreak, the university had recently become a military training camp for the first World War. Student soldiers were restricted to the campus, with all students enrolled in non-military courses escorted to class. According to a November 28, 1918 Pittsburgh Gazette-Times article, the quarantine was lifted in time for student-soldiers to celebrate the armistice on November 11.
"Without these important documents, it might have seemed like life on campus was normal during these times, and we wouldn't be able to draw parallels to our current situation today," Davis said.
The University Archives — located in Hunt Library — are seeking campus-wide emails, websites, social media and other digital works related to the impact of the pandemic on campus. Material is gathered through email, web archiving platforms and a CMU Box folder where members of the community can deposit documents. Physical materials will be collected once campus activities resume. Members of the community interested in this project should consult the COVID-19 Archives Toolkit
