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Covid-19, Grief, and Dia de los Muertos: An Inquiry Project

Album Description

Learning about other cultures is a crucial 21st century skill to have.  Students gain empathy for how others live, work, play, etc. By studying other cultures, students gain a better understanding of their own story and place in society. They can make connections to their own lives.

Our entire world is facing an ongoing mass trauma due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Over four million people have died worldwide with countless families in mourning over the loss of their loved ones.  This festival is entirely unique in that it is a happy and joyous celebration: a time to poke fun at death and celebrate friends and family who have died. 

We are also interested in using Mexican culture (Dia de los Muertos, as well as other customs and traditions) as a way of encouraging inquiry-based learning in the classroom. There are several cross-curricular opportunities here, including connections to geography and language arts.

The essential questions that will drive our inquiry are....

  • How do people of Mexico honor their loved ones who have died and deal with grief? 
  • How do people of other cultures handle death and grieving? 

  • How can students honor the victims of the pandemic while building empathy for others?  

Focus or supporting questions are:

  • What are the implications of the cultural practices and traditions of celebrating Dia de los Muertos?
  • Do celebrations of Dia de los Muertos by immigrants and others in America have different connotations than in Mexico?
  • How can we heal as a nation over the loss of so many friends and family members?  
  • How do we treat the idea of death in the United States compared to Mexico and other countries that celebrate Dia de los Muertos?
  • What connections can students make to their own lives? Are there any cultural similarities they can find? How might their lives be different if they grew up in Mexico? 

In collaboration with   Matthew Aken and   Crystal Brandt 

  bestof 

Calavera comercial. Estas son las calaveras de todos los comerciantes, les llegó la de deveras por tramposos y farsantes

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/99615906/

Reference note

Summary: Broadside shows skeletons patronizing a merchant skeleton selling such items as candles and sugar skulls for the Day of the Dead celebration. The text, a calavera in verse, conveys how "la flaca" (death) is making her rounds amongst all the food vendors and taking them to the graveyard.
Contributor Names: Antonio Vanegas Arroyo (Firm), publisher
Created / Published: Mexico City : Antonio Vanegas Arroyo, 1908.
Subject Headings: -  All Souls' Day--1900-1910
-  Celebrations--Mexico--1900-1910
-  Death--1900-1910
-  Skeletons--1900-1910
-  Vending stands--Mexico--1900-1910
-  Food vendors--Mexico--1900-1910
Notes: -  Images attributed to J. Cortes.
-  Imprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo, Calle de Santa Teresa número 1. Mexico. 1908.
-  This relief etching also used for "Gran bola de garbanceras que por ser muy pretenciosas..." broadsides PGA - Vanegas, no. 35 and PGA - Vanegas, no. 93.
-  Bequest and gift; Caroline and Erwin Swann; 1977; (DLC/PP-1977:215.573).
-  Forms part of: Caroline and Erwin Swann collection of caricature and cartoon (Library of Congress).
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. USA 20540
Digital Id: ppmsc 04552 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsc.04552

Olvera Street in the oldest part of downtown Los Angeles, California

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2013632328/

Reference note

Summary: Photo shows a store window filled with calaveras skeleton figures in dancing, playing musical instruments, and in other outfits. The street is part of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument, and referred to by Latinos as "La Placita Olvera" for a prominent local judge.
Contributor Names: Highsmith, Carol M., 1946-, photographer
Created / Published: 2012.
Subject Headings: -  United States--California--Los Angeles
-  Olvera Street
-  America
Genre: Digital photographs--Color--2010-2020
Notes: -  Title, date, and keywords provided by the photographer and Library staff.
-  Credit line: The Jon B. Lovelace Collection of California Photographs in Carol M. Highsmith's America Project, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.
-  Gift; The Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation in memory of Jon B. Lovelace; 2012; (DLC/PP-2012:063).
-  Forms part of: Jon B. Lovelace Collection of California Photographs in Carol M. Highsmith's America Project in the Carol M. Highsmith Archive.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: highsm 21868 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/highsm.21868

La calavera de Don Juan Tenorio

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/99615907/

Reference note

Summary: Broadside shows a graveyard in which two skeletons are fencing each other, while another lies on the ground dead, and a fourth peeks from behind a tombstone. There are two small skulls, a small bird creature, and a small angel by a tomb used as decoration. The text concerns a calavera (verse epitaph) of Don Juan Tenorio and his battle with death. Don Juan Tenorio is a drama frequently enacted in observance of the Mexican Day of the Dead.
Contributor Names: Antonio Vanegas Arroyo (Firm), publisher
Manilla, Manuel, artist
Posada, José Guadalupe, 1852-1913, artist
Created / Published: Mexico City : Antonio Vanegas Arroyo, [between 1909 and 1917]
Subject Headings: -  All Souls' Day--1910-1920
-  Don Juan (Legendary character)--1910-1920
-  Celebrations--Mexico--1900-1920
-  Fencing--1900-1920
-  Skeletons--1900-1920
Notes: -  Talleres de la Test. de A V, Arroyo. Sta. Teresa núm. 40. México, D.F.
-  For use of the main image in a different broadside, see PGA - Vanegas, no. 74.
-  Bequest and gift; Caroline and Erwin Swann; 1977; (DLC/PP-1977:215.572).
-  Forms part of: Caroline and Erwin Swann collection of caricature and cartoon (Library of Congress).
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. USA 20540
Digital Id: ppmsc 04572 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsc.04572

Gran bola de garbanceras que, por ser muy pretensiosas, se volverán calaveras podridas y apestosas

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/99615863/

Reference note

Summary: Broadside, on recto, shows skeletons purchasing such items as candles and sugar skulls for the Day of the Dead celebration. A female skeleton carrying a skull and a male skeleton carrying a basket face each other lower left and lower right. The text, in verse, jokes about the graces of serving maids who are not to be trusted with one's love. On the verso are four skeletons, two in fancy dress (male and female) and two others in simple clothing (male and female). The verso text conveys a calavera in verse directed at catrinas and catrines (fancy ladies and dandies), saying no matter how well groomed they may be they will wind up in hell with all their pretenses. Also on the verso there is a short calavera verse titled "Epitaphs." This broadside is similar to PGA - Vanegas, no. 35, except no. 35 is printed on brown wood paper and has different borders and headline fonts.
Contributor Names: Antonio Vanegas Arroyo (Firm), publisher
Created / Published: Mexico City : Antonio Vanegas Arroyo, [between 1890 and 1909]
Subject Headings: -  All Souls' Day--1890-1910
-  Celebrations--Mexico--1890-1910
-  Dandies--Mexico--1890-1910
-  Servants--Mexico--1890-1910
-  Skeletons--1890-1910
-  Snobbishness--1890-1910
Notes: -  Imprenta de Antonio Vanegas Arroyo, Calle de Santa Teresa número 1. México.
-  For use of this image on a different broadside, see PGA - Vanegas, no. 92.
-  Images attributed to J. Cortes.
-  Bequest and gift; Caroline and Erwin Swann; 1977; (DLC/PP-1977:215.538).
-  Forms part of: Caroline and Erwin Swann collection of caricature and cartoon (Library of Congress).
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. USA 20540
Digital Id: ppmsc 04553 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsc.04553
ppmsc 04554 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsc.04554

King Edward's funeral, 1910 [2]

Link: https:

Reference link: https://www.loc.gov/item/mp76000025/

Reference note

Summary: Ceremonial funeral procession of King Edward VII (1901-1910) passing through the streets of London on May 20, 1910. Views of the moving casket, heads of state walking behind the casket, the royal carriage, and various marching military units. Attending the ceremony were Kaiser Wilhelm II, Stéphen Pichon, Kings of Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and Theodore Roosevelt, representing the United States. Roosevelt is visible at ca. ft. 16-21, 126-129, 168-170.
Contributor Names: Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919.
Theodore Roosevelt Association Collection (Library of Congress)
Created / Published: [S.l. : s.n., 1910].
Subject Headings: -  Edward--VII,--King of Great Britain,--1841-1910--Death and burial
-  Funeral service
-  Heads of state
-  London (England)
Genre: Silent films
Short films
Nonfiction films
Newsreels
Notes: -  Copyright: no reg.
-  Film goes in and out of frame, ca. ft. 1-41, 68-72, 139.
-  Appearing: Theodore Roosevelt.
-  Duration: 3:47 at 18 fps.
-  MAVIS 1808210; King Edward's funeral, 1910 [2].
-  Donor's inventory number: RMA 313-05-01.
-  Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as digital files.
-  viewing print, dupe neg; Received: May 1968 from USDA lab; preservation; Theodore Roosevelt Association Collection.
-  RMA purchase from Howe, acquired by NPS, transferred to LC in 1967.
Repository: Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA dcu
Digital Id: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mbrsmi/trmp.4125

Disney characters mourn their creator

Disney characters mourn their creator

Funeral Car

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2002712453/

Reference note

Summary: Horse-drawn wagon with coffin, City of Mexico.
Contributor Names: Kirkbride, Joseph John, 1842-1899, photographer
Created / Published: [between 1884 and 1891]
Notes: -  In album.
-  Title and other information transcribed from unverified, old caption card data.
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
Digital Id: cph 3b35411 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b35411

The Death mask of Tut-Ankh-Amen

The Death mask of Tut-Ankh-Amen

Mural giving advice about COVID-19. Chestnut St. at Pitkin Ave., Brooklyn

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2020637063/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Vergara, Camilo J., photographer
Created / Published: September 16, 2020.
Subject Headings: -  United States--New York (State)--New York--Brooklyn
-  COVID-19 pandemic
-  Time Lapse: COVID-19
-  Corona Virus
-  Crossroads
-  Brooklyn
-  Murals
Genre: Digital photographs--2020
Notes: -  Title, date, and keywords based on information provided by photographer.
-  Gift; Camilo J. Vergara; 2020.
-  Vergara's early coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic is in the N.B.M. exhibition "Documenting Crossroads: The Coronavirus in Poor, Minority Communities," https://www.nbm.org/exhibition/documenting-crossroads/ External
-  Forms part of the Vergara Photograph Collection (Library of Congress).
-  pp/vrgcov
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: vrg 14187 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/vrg.14187

"Hommage to those who walked with us" by Make the Road New York, depicting young and old residents of Corona killed by COVID-19. 104-21 Roosevelt Ave., Queens

Reference link: http://www.loc.gov/item/2020638350/

Reference note

Contributor Names: Vergara, Camilo J., photographer
Created / Published: November 15, 2020.
Subject Headings: -  United States--New York (State)--New York--Queens
-  COVID-19 pandemic
-  Time Lapse: COVID-19
-  Corona Virus
-  Crossroads
-  Queens
-  Portraits
-  Memorials
-  Time Lapse: Queens--104-21 Roosevelt Ave
Genre: Digital photographs--2020
Notes: -  Title, date, and keywords based on information provided by photographer.
-  Gift; Camilo J. Vergara; 2020.
-  Vergara's early coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic is in the N.B.M. exhibition "Documenting Crossroads: The Coronavirus in Poor, Minority Communities," https://www.nbm.org/exhibition/documenting-crossroads/ External
-  Forms part of the Vergara Photograph Collection (Library of Congress).
-  pp/vrgcov
Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id: vrg 14643 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/vrg.14643