JJ Gonson is a photographer known for her work documenting a variety of live music performances by punk and hardcore bands at various venues in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A Cambridge native herself, Gonson began photographing bands in the 1980s while studying photography at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University. A chance meeting with Mike Gitter, the current Century Media Records’ vice president A&R and the creator of the fanzine xXx on Cambridge’s punk scene, led JJ to create a significant body of work focused on several local venues.
One of the most well-known was TT the Bear’s Place, formerly located at 10 Brookline St in Central Square, a prominent spot beloved by its patrons. TT’s hosted local bands as well as household names such as California punk rock band Descendents. TT’s thrived at the center of the local music scene during this time and was a local favorite up until its closure in July of 2015.
As a Cambridge resident, Gonson’s work also features many of the city’s local businesses and prominent landmarks. The businesses in and around Harvard Square, as well as the university itself, appear in the collection alongside her punk and hardcore music subjects. The city’s famed Mount Auburn Cemetery, the earliest example of a garden cemetery in the United States, is documented as well. Gonson’s family and friends, as well as photographs of her home, also feature heavily in her work.
The collection consists of primarily black and white photographic negatives, but also contains color negatives, photographic prints and contact sheets. A finding aid is available on ArchivesSpace, and the collection is open and available for research at the Cambridge Historical Commission.
Today’s post was written by CHC volunteer, Jordan Shaw.