Archives

Documenting History during the Pandemic

Across the globe, people are living through an unprecedented moment in history. The COVID-19 global pandemic is radically transforming the world. Nearly every aspect of life has changed in a very short period of time.

The Irving Archives and Museum (IAM) is committed to preserving the history of the city and its residents, and the IAM is seeking help to fulfill its mission during this challenging moment. The IAM is launching a collecting initiative to document the experiences of Irving residents and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The objective is to build a collection that reflects daily life in Irving during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Your experiences, photographs, videos and other items are critical in building this collection, and will help the IAM tell the story of this event to future generations. Much of what is known about the human experience during previous pandemics and significant historical moments comes from archival documents, such as journals, letters, photographs and physical objects.


The collection created will be a resource for future historians and residents. It will help them understand how Irvingites dealt with the new reality that so quickly altered "normal" life. Donated material will be permanently housed in the Irving Archives and available for researchers. Some submissions may be used on the Archives website, in exhibitions, and on social media, with the donor’s permission.

BEGIN THE DONATION PROCESS. Answer the questions as fully as possible.


These items are suitable for donating to the IAM for this project:

  • Images and photographs
  • Short videos
  • Journals or writings reflecting personal experiences. Residents are encouraged to start a journal. Spend a few moments each day reflecting on your experiences and what life is like during the pandemic. Record memories of your last "normal" day; home-schooling experiences; examples of neighbors helping each other; and how friends and family are staying in touch.
  • Objects and artifacts directly connected to the pandemic: Signs from car parades; new products/inventions created; items that reflect life under quarantine and social distancing measures; business signs communicating closures or modified operations; community projects; etc.

When donating journals, objects or artifacts, make a note on your donation form and upload a photograph if possible. A staff member will be in contact about donation arrangements when it is safe to submit.


Questions about the initiative or donations should be emailed to us.

History and Holdings

The Irving Archives was established in 1981 as a part of the city's Records Management Division within the City Secretary's Office. In October 1996, the Archives was moved from the City Secretary's Office to the Irving Public Library. It is located at 801 W. Irving Blvd.

The Archives' holdings encompass the political, municipal, and social history of the city. Collections include material relating to the history of the city, its schools, churches, clubs and businesses, as well as the history of its predecessor communities, founding families, and notable residents.



Holdings date from the mid-nineteenth century to the present and are made up of photographs, scrapbooks, paper records, newspapers and other publications, oral history tapes, videotapes, digital records, and small artifacts.

Collections Guide

A digital Collections Guide to the Archives' holdings is available. The collections are listed alphabetically by donor followed by a brief description of the material and then the accession or collection number. If an digital finding aid is available for a collection a link is provided to it in the Status column.

Collections Guide

Processed Collections

A processed collection is a collection that the archivist has arranged and prepared a finding aid for. Abstracts have been created for all processed collections along with a link to the finding aid.

Processed Collections

Contact Archivist

Kevin Kendro

We recommend contacting the Irving Archives to insure a complete search
Call 972-721-4754 E-Mail

Digitized Photo Collections

Several large photograph collections are available online.
Digitized Photos

Online Exhibits

View our online exhibits
View Online Exhibits
Take a Historic Neighborhood walking tour
Neighborhood Tour
Take a Downtown walking tour
Downtown Tour
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