image of a person under a a big tree looking up at the leaves and branches.

tending to

tending to is an on-going oral history exhibition collecting histories of Black women that explore their relationships to care.

In addition to an online repository of care histories where individuals can upload and share interviews beginning Summer 2021, a physical iteration of tending to will be on view at The Breathing Room Garden (5045 S. Laflin) in collaboration with #LetUsBreatheCollective. You can nominate a Black woman to be interviewed by our Oral History Team here.

Explore Care Histories

“I also can relate my first experience to care back to receiving my first prosthetic arm when I was four years old. Caring for my disability and tending to it is an essential part of my life, and has shaped my life and career for the better.”

Portrait of Adero K

  • Portrait of Patricia
  • Portrait of Dianne
  • Portrait of Tanya
  • Portrait of a Smiley Face (Heidi does not have a potrait)
  • Portrait of Jen
  • Portrait of a Smiley Face (Michelle does not have a potrait)
  • Portrait of a Smiley Face (Jessica does not have a potrait)
  • Portrait of Christina M
  • Portrait of Patricia
  • Portrait of Tanya
  • Portrait of a Smiley Face (Michelle does not have a potrait)
  • Portrait of a Smiley Face (Jessica does not have a potrait)
  • Portrait of a Smiley Face (Christina does not have a potrait)

What is Care History?

Stories are passed down over time and across generations through storytelling and what is called the oral tradition. The tending to project invites Black women to share their own stories of receiving and providing care.

What You Will Need



Someone to Interview
A recording device
A quiet place to record



Interview Guide

+ Preparing & Setting Up Technology

+ During the Conversation

+ Submitting Your Conversation