diff --git a/catalog/CHANGELOG.md b/catalog/CHANGELOG.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ba1f8f36e33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/catalog/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# Changelog
+
+Changes are listed in reverse chronological order (newer entries at the top).
+The entry format is
+
+```markdown
+- [Verb] Change description ([#<PR-number>](https://github.com/quiltdata/quilt/pull/<PR-number>))
+```
+
+where verb is one of
+
+- Removed
+- Added
+- Fixed
+- Changed
+
+## Changes
+
+- [Added] Bootstrap the change log ([#XXXX](https://github.com/quiltdata/quilt/pull/XXXX))