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‘People of Chelsea’ portraits collect residents’ stories in book and local exhibitions
Summary
Photographer Darlene DaVita and writer Sarah Putnam discuss their People of Chelsea project — portraits and oral histories shown in libraries and galleries, a self-published book of 65 stories (printed on demand, $25), Chelsea Public Library archiving, grant support from Chelsea Heritage, and plans to expand and recruit volunteers.
Marnie McAlpine, host of the Chelsea Chats podcast, sat down with photographer and project co‑founder Darlene DaVita and collaborator Sarah Putnam to discuss the People of Chelsea project, a long‑running portrait and oral‑history effort that the pair say aims to foreground residents and the city’s layered history.
DaVita described how she began photographing people in public spaces after moving to Chelsea in 2004, saying she wanted to capture neighbors’ stories as well as images: “I needed stories,” she said, describing portraits taken on a portable backdrop that intentionally included elements of the city. Putnam, who joined the project in 2018 as a writer and editor, said the collaboration widened the project’s reach and language access: she noted her Spanish fluency helped connect to more participants.
The project has appeared in several local venues. Organizers said the work has been shown in Chelsea City Hall and the library, as large banners near the library and Chelsea High School, at the Griffin Museum satellite gallery, and in local gallery spaces such as Spencer Lofts. They have also organized panel discussions to accompany shows.
Organizers said they have received grants to support portions of the work. “We’ve... gotten grants from the Chelsea heritage,” Putnam said, describing grant‑funded efforts to document long‑standing local businesses and to highlight stories important to Chelsea’s Black community as part of the city’s 400th anniversary programming. The pair said they are seeking additional funding to document difficult chapters of the city’s past, including the 1980s receivership and other hard years.
The team has produced a self‑published book containing 65 of the project’s oral histories and portraits, which they said is printed on demand and available for $25. DaVita said copies are available through her and that the Chelsea Public Library will hold a digital archive of the People of Chelsea materials to ensure public access.
The hosts stressed the project’s intentional visual approach. Putnam said the backdrop “kind of amplifies their presence,” placing subjects at the center while still showing the city around them. As an example of the project’s focus on place, the interview included an excerpt from a profile of Deb Cronin, a union carpenter whose story the organizers said is closely tied to Chelsea’s Tobin Bridge and the city’s economic history.
Looking ahead, DaVita and Putnam said they hope to expand the project beyond Chelsea and Massachusetts because they believe the portraits and stories “have resonance far beyond just this community.” They also asked for volunteer help with website and social‑media work to broaden access and invited residents to consult the Chelsea Public Library archives or contact the project directly for copies of the book.
The episode closed with host McAlpine urging listeners to follow People of Chelsea on social media and to visit the library archive for more stories.
