Comparing the 1918 Spanish Influenza and the 2020 COVID-19 pandemics

While the effects of COVID-19 and the Spanish influenza of 1918 are similar in terms of public response, the viruses themselves are quite different. While it’s true that both viruses are “novel” – meaning they were so new that no one had immunity to them – they are markedly different in terms of genetic makeup, symptoms, incubation period, and fatality rate. The Spanish flu was a result of the H1N1 virus that originated in birds, while COVID-19 is the result of the coronavirus - which is thought to have originated in either bats or pangolins. This is the current “best guess;” as of today, experts have not been able to pinpoint the exact origin of COVID-19.

The Spanish flu and COVID-19 also have different symptoms and onset patterns, though the end results of the two appear similar. Persons infected with Spanish flu began experiencing symptoms almost immediately, typically in one to two days following exposure. Initial symptoms included headache and fatigue on the first day, followed by dry cough, loss of appetite, stomach problems, and on the second day, excessive sweating and chills. If the infection progressed (and it often did), it spread to the respiratory organs, causing pneumonia and other respiratory complications. These were determined to be the main causes of death. Those infected with COVID-19 have experienced a more gradual progression of symptoms, and a sizable portion of its victims have no symptoms at all. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and difficulty breathing. Individuals who have succumbed to the virus were reported to have died from respiratory complications like pneumonia. In this way, the final nail in the coffin for sufferers of both viruses has been respiratory issues.

Finally, the fatality rate for both viruses differs vastly, perhaps due to differences in population size. Spanish flu had a fatality rate of about 2%, with the population in 1918 approaching 1.8 billion. The group most vulnerable to Spanish flu were healthy adults ages 20 to 40, and mortality was unusually high. Experts project that COVID-19 has a fatality rate of 1%, which is still ten times higher than seasonal influenza. Mortality is high in older adults over 65 or individuals with compromised immune systems. This isn’t to say that these groups are the only ones who should take caution, however.

Guest blogger Rachel Seitz

Working with Newspaper Collections at the Stillwater History Museum

As a museum intern as well as a writer, I was very excited to learn I’d be working with the Stillwater History Museum’s collection of newspapers. The SHM has a vast collection of various Oklahoman newspapers, sorted by decade, dating all the way back to the 1890s. The sheer amount of newspapers in these boxes was initially overwhelming, as my job was to separate clippings from entire issues. Leafing through hundreds of papers, making sure each individual issue was in the correct box, and taking care to be delicate with them was a significant task. The next step is even more daunting: going through every box a second time and compiling the names and dates of the issues onto a list. The goal behind this process is to organize the newspapers so I can later transfer the physical list to a digital spreadsheet. This would allow the museum to more easily search for a specific issue, if need be.

As you can imagine, I’ve gone down several rabbit holes while organizing the SHM newspaper collection. Each decade had shining moments that gained coverage from newspapers nationwide, and Oklahoma newspapers were no exception. I found that a good majority of the SHM collection, which includes newspapers from Payne County and elsewhere in Oklahoma, focused on Oklahoma State University athletics. The school’s athletic department has made quite an impact on college sports over the years, as many national newspapers placed OSU on the front page of their sports sections. The traditional sections of these newspapers also focused on significant moments of the decade. For example, most of the issues in the 1990s and 2000s collections discussed the turn of the century and its supposed complications. (Y2K was a bigger deal than I thought it was!)

Since the theme for the museum’s changing exhibits in March is paper and books, the SHM may have a section of its paper display dedicated to Oklahoma newspapers. Stay tuned for future updates!

Rachel Seitz, Museum Intern

Preserving our Cultural Heritage at the SHM

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The second year-long exhibit in 2020 at the Stillwater History Museum at the Sheerar centers around preserving Stillwater’s local culture. Each month will feature items pertaining to a specific theme. The theme for the month of February is historic photographs and slides. On display are photographs and slides from the museum’s collections as well the technology used to produce or view them. The museum is also hosting a free family-friendly program on Thursday, February 20, from 2-4 p.m. where attendees will learn the art of hand-tinting copies of historic photographs. And, as part of the photos and slides theme, the Stillwater Collects February display features Mary Ann Grimsley’s collection of matchbox covers.

The theme for March is books and display cases will feature cookbooks, kid’s books, and others from the Museum’s collection. A program on March 29, 2-3 p.m., will tell the stories of Oklahoma authors. In keeping with the cookbook theme, Stillwater resident Marilyn Wilson will be loaning cookie jars from her collection for the Stillwater Collects display, and the March museum’s textile display will feature aprons.

Rachel Seitz, Museum Intern

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Women Win the Vote: LWV Celebrates 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage

2020 marks one hundred years since the official ratification of the 19th amendment in 36 states, making nationwide history as the right to vote was extended to women after a 72-year struggle. Suffragists had been a positive force in American society well before 1920 by continuously confronting systems of power, even in the face of public criticism and ridicule. Despite their public treatment, these activists had strong support from family and friends; those who knew them knew they were working for a better life, especially for women. Additionally, many suffragists’ biggest supporters were their husbands, fathers, and brothers. Many young suffragists were inspired to take action because their fathers or other male family members were politically active. Many suffragists attributed familial support to their willingness to persevere in the face of adversity; despite this support, women’s suffrage was still a grassroots movement with little backing from wealthy men, businesses or politicians.

The League of Women Voters was a response to the overwhelming number of women with new responsibilities as voters. It encouraged them to use their newfound power to get involved with public policy and advocacy. It was first conceptualized by Carrie Chapman Catt, and officially founded in Chicago in 1920, just six months before the 19th amendment was ratified. The League quickly spread nationwide, and by 1924, there were Leagues organized in 346 of 433 congressional districts. The Oklahoma chapter of the League of Women Voters was founded in 2012 and has been engaging with Oklahoma communities ever since. The Stillwater chapter was established in 1946 in members’ homes. They are hosting a centennial event on Thursday, February 13 to commemorate both the 100th birthdays of the 19th amendment and the founding of the LWV.

The Stillwater History Museum at the Sheerar is featuring a year-long exhibit in honor of both anniversaries and will be on display through March 1, 2021. In partnership with the Stillwater chapter, there will be a video presentation and discussion at the museum on March 1, 2020 at 2pm.

 Rachel Seitz

Seitz is an Oklahoma native and OSU student. She is helping to preserve and promote Stillwater history through a Stillwater History Museum internship using her skills as a writer.