Take me back to the Oral History landing page.
Katie Brethorst - Tumultuous 2020
Katie Brethorst, Research Intern at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and graduate student at the University of Illinois--Springfield (UIS), describes her experience with the COVID-19 pandemic. When the pandemic first began, Brethorst was a senior at UIS and dealt with the loss of her school-owned apartment, graduation ceremony, and production of Twelfth Night she was starring in. The summer of 2020 had different positive and negative experiences for Brethorst. Brethorst began her graduate studies and internship at the ALPLM in August of 2020. Her classes were all online and her internship went between remote work and in-person. At the time of the interview, Brethorst had just completed finals and ended her first semester of in-person graduate classes.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
The days following the state mandated shutdown.
Abstract
Interview session (Audio)
Transcript
Photos
Caption: Katie Brethorst and Gabby Antonacci stand together in the Sangamon Experience at University of Illinois—Springfield (UIS). Brethorst was responsible for research and writing a portion of the exhibit while Antonacci covered design elements, including murals.
Where: UIS, Springfield, Illinois
When: January 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Katie Brethorst stands with other guests of honor at the Sangamon Experience ribbon cutting at the UIS in January of 2020.
Where: UIS, Springfield, Illinois
When: January 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Katie Brethorst stands next to a panel about Susan Lawrence Dana in the Sangamon Experience at UIS on January 30, 2020.
Where: UIS, Springfield, Illinois
When: January 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Bob Stockwell and his sister, Shirley, load a mattress on moving day, March 2020, when campus suddenly shut down and Brethorst and Stockwell had to move out.
Where: UIS Student Housing, Springfield, Illinois
When: March 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Rhett lies on the cushion of his favorite couch on moving day on March 17, 2020.
Where: Springfield, Illinois
When: March 17, 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Bob Stockwell, Katie Brethorst, and Rhett sit together in their apartment after they moved into their apartment at the end of March of 2020.
Where: Springfield, Illinois
When: March 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: The Dana-Thomas House in March of 2020 after closing unexpectedly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was part of the photo series Brethorst was tasked with by the Sangamon Experience to document the Springfield community’s response to the pandemic.
Where: Springfield, Illinois
When: March 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: The Roost, a local Springfield business that later closed, sports an “everything will be okay” sign painted by a local artist in their window after the COVID-19 pandemic caused businesses to close.
Where: Springfield, Illinois
When: March 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: The Edwards Place in Springfield, Illinois, after being closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Where: Edwards Place, Springfield, Illinois
When: March 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: The cast of Twelfth Night meets over Zoom to celebrate what would have been opening night in the spring of 2020.
Where: Springfield, Illinois
When: Spring 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Brethorst poses in Taliesin-East, Frank Lloyd Wright’s personal residence and now museum.
Where: Taliesen-East, Spring Green, Wisconsin
When: June 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Chelsea Coates, Rebekah and David Hecht, Bob Stockwell, and Katie Brethorst pose together in the back (L to R) while Hannah Blythe, Claire Starling, and Kelsey Armstrong (L to R) pose in the front while celebrating Brethorst’s twenty-second birthday in June 2020.
Where: Springfield, Illinois
When: June 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: David Hecht, Katie Brethorst, Chelsea Coates, and Bob Stockwell swim in Lake Huron while camping in Michigan.
Where: Michigan
When: July 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Chelsea Coates, Bob Stockwell, Katie Brethorst, and David and Rebekah Hecht pause for a photo while hiking to Arch Rock on Mackinac Island, which can be seen in the background.
Where: Mackinac Island, Michigan
When: July 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Katie Brethorst and Rebekah Hecht hike Mackinac Island, Michigan, to find abandoned cars from the 1920s.
Where: Mackinac Island, Michigan
When: July 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: A cake baked by Brethorst and brought into work celebrates the historic election of President Biden and Vice-President Harris on Monday, November 9, 2020, after the election results were certified.
Where: ALPLM, Springfield, Illinois
When: November 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Brethorst poses on the stairs of the Edwards Place at her close friend group’s Starfall Party. The Starfall theme was based off the Starfall Party which occurred in a book (A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas) much loved by the attendees. The party also served as a Christmas gathering for the group.
Where: Edwards Place, Springfield, Illinois
When: December 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Chelsea Coates, Bob Stockwell, Katie Brethorst, Claire Starling, Melissa Dickson, Sarah Adams, David and Rebekah Hecht, and Kat Pruitt pose together at the Starfall Party.
Where: Edwards Place, Springfield, Illinois
When: December 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: The gifts sit under the tree waiting to be opened at the Starfall Party.
Where: Edwards Place, Springfield, Illinois
When: December 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Guests at the Starfall Party pose with their gifts at the Edward’s Place.
Where: Edwards Place, Springfield, Illinois
When: December 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Guests at the Starfall Party pose in front of lights. From left to right: Claire Starling, Kat Pruitt, Melissa Dickson, Chelsea Coates, David Hecht, Katie Brethorst, and Sarah Adams.
Where: Edwards Place, Springfield, Illinois
When: December 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: The Illinois National Guard stands guard outside of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum after the January 6th riot occurred in reaction to the election of President Biden. There were rumors of state capitals being attacked and the ALPLM’s proximity raised concern.
Where: ALPLM, Springfield, Illinois
When: January 2021
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: The Illinois National Guard stands guard outside of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum after the January 6th riot occurred in reaction to the election of President Biden. There were rumors of state capitals being attacked and the ALPLM’s proximity raised concern.
Where: ALPLM, Springfield, Illinois
When: January 2021
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: The Illinois National Guard stands guard outside of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum after the January 6th riot occurred in reaction to the election of President Biden. There were rumors of state capitals being attacked and the ALPLM’s proximity raised concern.
Where: ALPLM, Springfield, Illinois
When: January 2021
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Brethorst and Stockwell hold Rhett during a photoshoot after Rhett’s terminal cancer diagnosis in January of 2021.
Where: Washington Park, Springfield, Illinois
When: January 2021
Ownership: May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption: Rhett rests his head on the table of District Donuts after a long day of exploring New Orleans, Louisiana in January of 2021. Stockwell and Brethorst decided to take Rhett on a trip to New Orleans to see the ocean after his cancer diagnosis.
Where: New Orleans, Louisiana
When: January 2021
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Rhett looks behind him while walking through New Orleans.
Where: New Orleans, Louisiana
When: January 2021
Ownership: Narrator's photo
Caption: Rhett eats a beignet during their trip to New Orleans.
Where: New Orleans, Louisiana
When: January 2021
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Brethorst, Stockwell, and Rhett stand together in the Atlantic Ocean on their trip to New Orleans.
Where: New Orleans, Louisiana
When: January 2021
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Rhett enjoys swimming in the Atlantic Ocean while in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Where: New Orleans, Louisiana
When: January 2021
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Katie Brethorst and Rhett sit together in Jackson Square in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Where: New Orleans, Louisiana
When: January 2021
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Rebekah Hecht takes a photo of her, Morg Bode, Ciara Koepke, Katie Brethorst, and Gabby Antonacci while they memorialize the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire.
Where: UIS campus, Springfield, Illinois
When: March 2021
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Brethorst and her graduate cohorts honor the victims of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory on the hundredth anniversary of the fire by writing their names and outlines in chalk on the campus of UIS.
Where: UIS, Springfield, Illinois
When: March 2021
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Chelsea Coates, Austin Baughman, Bob Stockwell, Gabby Antonacci, Morg Bode, and Mason Seggebruch (L to R) sit on the front row and Katie Brethorst, Kat Pruitt, and Sarah Adams (L to R) sit in the back row
of the steps in the Sunken Garden while enjoying the peony picnic at Allerton.
Where: Allerton, Monticello, Illinois
When: May 2021
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: A group of Brethorst’s friends pose together in her apartment before Brethorst’s birthday celebrations begin. This was Brethorst’s second birthday during a pandemic. Due to the progress made by vaccinations, a larger group was present than 2020, though not as large as normal.
Where: Springfield, Illinois
When: June 2021
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Katie Brethorst, Bob Stockwell, and Rhett at Allerton moments before Stockwell proposed to Brethorst.
Where: Allerton, Monticello, Illinois
When: July 2020
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Bob Stockwell and Katie Brethorst pose with Rhett after Stockwell proposed during their picnic at Allerton.
Where: Allerton, Monticello, Illinois
When: July 4, 2021
Ownership: Narrator’s photo
Caption: Stockwell and Brethorst pose for their engagement photos.
Where: Springfield, Illinois
When: September 2021
Ownership: May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption: Stockwell and Brethorst pose in front of the capital building during their engagement photoshoot in September of 2021.
Where: Springfield, Illinois
When: September 2021
Ownership: May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.