The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize Chelsea Mitchell, Director of the Woolworth Library at Historic Stonington and Organizer General of Stonington’s America 250 celebrations, as part of its Community Proud series, sponsored by Charter Oak Credit Union.

For the past nine years, Chelsea has helped preserve Stonington’s history and connect community members with the people, places, and stories that shaped the town. She lives in Pawcatuck with her husband and their dog and enjoys learning, traveling, local theater, and discovering new ways to share history with others.

Chelsea’s path to becoming a library director began unexpectedly during college when she accepted a work-study position in the Rare Books Room of her campus library. Her friends did not believe the room existed, but the experience introduced Chelsea to a career she had never considered. The librarian who supervised her was a young woman who showed Chelsea that working in history did not have to mean becoming a teacher.

While earning her Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Rhode Island, Chelsea worked at the Redwood Library in Newport, the Westerly High School Library, and the Westerly Public Library. Each institution was led by women who helped shape her understanding of librarianship, leadership, and public service.

Full-time library positions can be difficult to find, and Chelsea was working in accounts payable at a golf course when she saw the opening at the Woolworth Library. The opportunity to work in a setting that combined a museum, library, and historical collection immediately appealed to her.

When Chelsea first arrived at Historic Stonington, she was determined to do everything her own way. Over time, she realized she was sometimes recreating systems that were already working. Her nine years with the organization have taught her to trust her instincts, value experience, and rely on her growing knowledge of the collection.

Her colleagues now joke that Chelsea can find anything. It is a reputation she has earned by carefully learning the collection and strengthening her research skills. Whether someone is searching for a family record, a photograph, a letter, or a long-forgotten recipe, Chelsea works to uncover the available evidence and help each visitor understand what it reveals.

Chelsea hopes to be known as a trustworthy, hardworking resource for the community. She believes passion is contagious and wants people to recognize the remarkable information available in Stonington’s archives. Her goal is not simply to provide facts. She wants visitors to become excited about history and understand how it relates to their own lives.

Accuracy and responsible research are also central to Chelsea’s work. At a time when unreliable information and personal opinions can spread quickly online, she encourages people to read widely, examine their sources, and remain open to changing their minds when credible new information becomes available.

Chelsea has learned that the best way to connect people with history is to meet them where they are. While some researchers are fascinated by the smallest details, many visitors come to the Woolworth Library because they want to feel closer to a family member, a place, or a moment in time. Chelsea uses the archives to help create that connection. A handwritten recipe, for example, can reveal something personal about a grandmother who loved to bake.

She is also honest about the limits of the historical record. Chelsea never makes a claim she cannot support with evidence. If the library does not have the information someone needs, she will say so and direct the researcher to other organizations or collections that may be able to help. She believes that transparency, encouragement, and a willingness to keep searching are essential to building trust.

Among Chelsea’s proudest accomplishments are the lectures she has developed about women’s history in Stonington. She presents these programs to historical societies, community groups, schools, and anyone else willing to listen. Through journals, letters, diaries, photographs, and manuscripts, Chelsea introduces audiences to women who lived ordinary lives in their own time but left behind records that offer meaningful insight into the female experience.

These presentations allow Chelsea to honor women whose stories may otherwise be overlooked. They also help modern audiences consider how much life has changed for women and how much remains familiar.

Chelsea’s commitment to Stonington was especially visible through her role as Organizer General of the community’s America 250 celebrations. She initially felt intimidated by the responsibility and worried about letting the community down. Those concerns soon gave way to gratitude as organizations, nonprofits, social groups, and individuals stepped forward to help.

The experience became one of the most affirming and collaborative projects of Chelsea’s career. She was moved by the number of people willing to work hard with little recognition simply because they cared about their community. The celebration brought together groups and individuals in ways she had not imagined and reminded her why she is proud to call Stonington home.

Chelsea grew up in Hope Valley and moved to Westerly in 2014. She and her husband purchased their home in Pawcatuck in 2021. Today, she feels deeply connected to the area and the people who live here.

Chelsea jokes that her seventeen-year-old self would be horrified by how proud she is to be a “townie,” but that familiarity is part of what makes the area feel like home. She knows the back roads to take when traffic builds, recognizes the pharmacist, mechanic, and town clerk, and knows her neighbors. The landscape is equally important to her. Growing up in New England gave her a lasting reverence for the ocean and an awareness of the weather and seasons. When she attended college in New York, one of the first things she noticed was that the air did not smell like salt.

Outside of work, Chelsea is a passionate supporter of local theater. She loves the shared experience of sitting together in the dark while performers tell a story that will never unfold in exactly the same way again. For Chelsea, that sense of impermanence is part of the magic. Local productions also give community members an opportunity to share talents their neighbors may not know they possess.

Chelsea frequently performs in theater productions in Wakefield and Westerly. During the winter, she enjoys knitting and sewing. She has also tried gardening, although she admits she has not developed much patience for weeding. Before history changed the direction of her life, Chelsea originally attended college as a dance major. She still loves dancing and says that once she reaches the dance floor, it can be difficult to get her to leave.

Chelsea is inspired by people who face overwhelming odds or attempt something that has never been done before and still commit to seeing it through. She admires those who are willing to fail, look foolish, learn, and try again. She believes that courage and perseverance are especially valuable at a time when social media can make people afraid to take risks publicly.

Throughout her career at Historic Stonington, Chelsea has been supported and encouraged by Executive Director Elizabeth Wood. Chelsea credits Elizabeth with helping her develop confidence in her position and describes her as an exceptional role model, trusted colleague, and dear friend. She deeply admires Elizabeth’s tact, resilience, and ability to lead by example.

Being selected for the Community Proud series has given Chelsea an opportunity to reflect on what she and her colleagues have accomplished. She notes that people who work for nonprofit organizations care deeply about their missions and the communities they serve, but their humility can sometimes prevent them from recognizing their own contributions. There is always another task waiting and more work to be done.

For Chelsea, this recognition is a meaningful reminder to pause, appreciate the progress that has been made, and understand that the community notices the work happening behind the scenes. Through her research, educational programs, collaborative leadership, and dedication to preserving local stories, Chelsea continues to help Stonington better understand its past while strengthening its sense of community in the present.