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Contributor is exactly
Cody Brown
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2020-08-23
Cody Brown Portfolio
When I first began the Journal of the Plague Year internship, I wasn’t completely sure what to expect. I wanted to be part of something impactful and important during the pandemic and was hoping to learn some new skills that could be applied in furthering my academic studies or in future job pursuits. What I discovered as the internship went on is that I was going to get to do all of that and so much more. What I thought was going to be a “standard” internship was instead a fast-paced, jump in with both feet without looking, rollercoaster ride. I had no previous experience doing public history work beyond conducting an oral history interview with my great-grandmother for an “Aging in Rural America” course during my undergraduate studies. What I discovered was the entire behind the scenes effort that makes these pieces of information readily accessible to the public. As the internship progressed, not only was I adjusting to constantly changing best practice regarding curation, but I was also learning new skills that I would have likely not learned anywhere else in my academic career. What started, in my mind, as a simple internship turned into one of the greatest learning experiences of my academic career, to date. Never had I imagined that I would learn, let alone use, some of the skills that were cultivated during this internship. While I am not a fan of the redaction portion of public history, likely because I don’t feel very adept at it, many of the other skills introduced and learned during this internship appealed to me greatly. During the blog post writing assignment, I discovered the challenge of attempting to write an attention-grabbing piece that was interesting to read to a general audience yet informational enough to convey the necessary information while maintaining a condensed length so as not to lose a reader’s interest. This was extremely challenging for me as I tend to be long-winded and include to much “fluff” in much of my writing. I, however, found the challenge enjoying and plan to continue to hone my blogging skills; maybe even someday start my own history related blog. One of the most enjoyable skills that I learned was the entire range of conducting and polishing an oral history. The development of questions, the interview itself, the transcription (the first few attempts were very rough), and even the cataloging and archiving of the history were a joy once I understood and was comfortable with the process. Finding new tools to use as part of the oral history portion of the internship such as otter.ai was also an extremely rewarding aspect of the process. This skill will likely prove itself especially useful in my further academic and professional pursuits. Finally, the experience of interaction between the interns was unique in my experiences working with others. Never have I participated in an entirely digital project or team experience before the JOTPY internship. The experience was unique and very rewarding, and the interaction between the interns was exceptional. Not only did we conduct weekly meetings regarding the archive and internship and work remotely within groups using digital tools within the internship group, but we connected, interacted, and worked with other groups and individuals associated with the archive using the same tools (Zoom, Slack, etc.) I have had some of my fellow interns in other classes during my program, but being able to actively see, speak, and work with my colleagues was a wonderful experience and I was lucky to be part of such a great group of historians. -
2020-06-04
Researchers retract study that found big risks in using hydroxychloroquine to treat covid-19
A study outlining the risk of using the drug hydroxychloroquine has been retracted by researchers involved, citing uncertain data. After researchers admitted to being unable to vouch for the data used in their study, the decision was made to retract the study. The retraction highlights the concern that medical researchers are lowering standards of data verification in an effort to rush publications during the COVID-19 pandemic. -
2020-07-10
Hospitals struggle with PPE shortages amid new COVID-19 surges
Months into the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals are still struggling to find enough PPE to protect their workers. With supplies still being grossly under-available, some hospitals have had to resort to reusing PPE multiples times in an effort to provide at least some protection for their staff. -
2020-04-26
Volunteer Emergency Responders Face a Dilemma: Save Lives or Stay Safe
Across the country, volunteer fire and EMS services are facing a dangerous choice during the COVID-19 pandemic, save the lives of others or stay safe. With a lack of funding for many of these departments, proper PPE is a luxury many do not have access to. Among workers in the healthcare field, volunteer members are seeing the highest rates of infection. -
07/10/2020
Alexis Walker Oral History, 2020/07/10
Alexis Walker grew up in Southern California but is currently living in Fayetteville, NC while her husband is stationed at Fort Bragg. Alexis is currently a full-time mom and a full-time graduate student in Arizona State University’s online History M.A. program. Alexis’s day-to-day life is mostly centered around her family and the social life of the family is heavily centered around the military community of Fort Bragg. In this interview Alexis reflects on her experiences as a mother during the COVID-19 pandemic and how that has affected the way she cares for her children. Alexis also provides a unique insight to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of military members, their families, and the military community as a whole. With the stop movement order issued by the military, the lives of Alexis and her family have essentially been put on hold until the military decides to relax this movement and travel restriction. Finally, Alexis reflects on the varying responses to the pandemic within a community made up of great diversity due to the varying cultural backgrounds of military families. -
2020-06-10
Nebraska National Guard Soldiers Test Positive for COVID-19 Following Protests
A number of Nebraska National Guard soldiers have tested positive for COVID-19 following missions to assist law enforcement amid protests in Omaha and Lincoln. None of the affected soldiers have been hospitalized and all are isolating in their homes. Protests have flared across the country following the death of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, while in custody. Many of the protests have individuals packed tightly in large groups, many not wearing masks or following other recommended guidelines to slow the spread of the virus. -
2020-06-06
Iowa Attempts to Limit Election Official’s Power During Pandemic
Following Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate’s decision to send absentee ballot requests to every registered voter ahead of the June 2nd primary, Senate Republicans passed a bill to limit the Secretary’s power and prohibit the same action from occurring again. Pate’s decision was made in an effort to allow all Iowans the change to vote without increasing the risk of spreading COVID-19 at the polls. With many rural counties reducing in-person polling places to just one per county, absentee voting was the only choice for many rural Iowans. The decision by Pate resulted in a record voter turnout for the state. -
2020-06-10
No Iowa State Fair for the First Time Since WWII
After two consecutive years with record attendance, the momentum of the Iowa State Fair has come to a screeching halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the first time since WWII there will be no Iowa State Fair, one of the largest in the country and the second largest in the Midwest. The Iowa State Fair has only been cancelled a total of 5 times in its 166-years history and was even held during the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. One of the most anticipated and loved events for Iowa residents is no more for 2020 -
2020-05-29
Hard Hit NYC Hospital Has First Day Without Coronavirus Death
For the first time since the pandemic hit New York City, Montefiore Hospital Thursday lost not a single patient to COVID-19, indicating a possible end in sight for the pandemic in New York. -
2020-04-12
COVID-19 Reveals Racial Inequities In U.S. Healthcare System: Strategies For Solutions
Americans of African descent are contracting and dying from COVID-19 at a higher rate than other racial and ethnic groups in the United States due to healthcare inequalities. -
2020-05-01
10% Of Confirmed COVID-19 Cases In Georgia Are Among Health Care Workers
Healthcare workers, despite taking precautions, represent a large portion of the COVID-19 cases in Georgia. -
2020-05-28
A Krispy Gift
Healthcare workers pose with a tasty gift given to show support by the Krispy Kreme company. -
2020-05-29
A Personal Touch
Medical workers attach photographs of themselves to the outside of their PPE in an effort to provide a little more humanity when caring for their patients. -
2020-04-07
We Are Essential
A healthcare worker wears a PPE suit bearing a strong sentiment that hope is just as essential as those actively fighting on the front lines, hope that we will all get through this together. -
2020-03-31
Hard Times for Hospitals Too
As elective surgeries are being cancelled to prioritize usage of PPE and in an effort to minimize the exposure to, and spread of, COVID-19, many hospitals are facing financial difficulties as a result of canceling these elective, and often high dollar, surgeries and procedures. -
2020-05-29
Not So Emergency Rooms
Doctors are seeing an increase in death and severe complications from otherwise treatable diseases as people are waiting until it is too late before seeking treatment, out of fear from catching COVID-19. -
2020-05-23
Virtual Hugs
A simple drawing showing the need for human interaction that has been extremely limited during the pandemic. The drawing represents a gesture of human affection and caring at a level possible during this time. -
2020-05-23
Return of the Paper
A photograph of bathroom tissue in stock on store shelves. An indicator that the initial panic that consumed the United States is passing, with a humorous twist. -
2020-05-23
The Original Social Distancing
A humorous account of "social distancing" in a bygone era. Intended to be satire. -
2020-05-23
Baptism at a Distance
This meme shows the humor that so many are using to cope with the stresses of the pandemic. The meme represents, in a humorous way, that there is always a way to engage in activities that are important to individuals. -
2020-05-22
Parking Lot Church Service
Photograph of a social distanced church service showing the dedication one congregation has to their faith. -
04/04/2020
The Pandemic’s Unique Toll On 2020 College Graduates
What will the future look like for new college graduates amid a global pandemic? #ASU #HST580 -
05/15/2020
Social Distancing at Graduation
Graduates practice social distancing during their ceremony. Even during the pandemic important events and social gatherings can happen, with proper precautions taken. #ASU #HST580 -
05/16/2020
Family Waiting for Graduation Ceremony
A family sits together while waiting for the graduation ceremony to start. Even during times of crisis, it is essential that celebrations and recognition of achievements continue. -
05/16/2020
Graduation Ceremony Staging
Staging area for the Logan-Magnolia graduation ceremony. Family groups are allowed to sit together in groups smaller than 10, but groups must remain at least 6 feet apart. -
05/16/2020
Pandemic Graduation Setup
Gymnasium being setup for a social distancing graduation. This photo speaks volumes to the importance of a graduation ceremony for these young adults and the drive to find a way to keep some resemblance of normalcy.