The Marblehead Museum is giving people a chance to take one of its temporary exhibits home with a permanent publication.
“Marblehead Snapshots: The World of Fred Litchman” features 140 photographs from the photographer that encapsulate the town from the late 19th century through World War I. The book is authored by Marblehead Museum Associate Director Jarrett Zeman, who also curated the launch of the exhibit in August.
“These aren’t the austere, serious photos of Victorians you’re used to seeing,” Zeman said. “These are casual photos of Headers having fun at many of the same sites we love today. It gives us a fresh perspective on the town’s history and the people who lived that history.”
Zeman said Litchman was one of the town’s most prominent photographers during the Victorian era. He owned and operated photography studios on 15 State St. and 157 Washington St. until his death in 1945.
Zeman recapped the nine-month process of crafting the book, which began with examining the 3,000 photos taken by Litchman and selecting the most significant ones for inclusion. The final process of elimination was assisted by grouping photos together based on theme. Each chapter features a unique theme, such as transportation in “New England on Wheels”, men and women working jobs crucial to the town’s infrastructure in “Headers at Work,” and the town’s numerous ocean views in “On the Waterfront.”
“Fred took more photos of the Marblehead waterfront than any other location,” Zeman noted.
Each photo has a caption that provides historical context, such as who is in the photo and where and when it was taken. Zeman and the museum wanted to immortalize the exhibit in this way to get as many eyes on Litchman’s photos as possible.
“Many of the photographs in the book are being published for the very first time,” Zeman said. “So we’re giving people an opportunity to see a lot of photographs that they’ve never seen before and we hope that it gives them a new perspective on Marblehead’s history.”
“Marblehead Snapshots” is currently on sale at the Marblehead Museum’s gift shop, and will also be sold in the Jeremiah Lee Mansion during the museum’s Gingerbread Festival from December 1-3. It is also available at Abbot Hall, Arnould Gallery and Framing, and Saltwater Bookstore. According to the museum, the book will be sold at other local retailers in the coming weeks.