Rochester Public Library, Clarissa Street Legacy Collections
Rochester, NY 14604
Phone: 585-428-7300
Brandon Fess - 585-428-7300 - [email protected]
About
The Clarissa Street Legacy holds an annual Reunion that takes place in one of the most culturally rich neighborhoods of Rochester. The event celebrates a neighborhood known for producing renowned jazz musicians in the 1940's, 1950's, and 1960's. Clarissa Street, which is located in the southwest quadrant of Rochester and the old 3rd Ward, was a true melting pot which brought together people of Black, Italian, Irish, and Jewish descent. Streets were made of cobblestone and trolley cars were a familiar sight. The Clarissa Street Reunion, held annually since 1996, is a wonderful celebration of the memories and the relationships that were formed in the neighborhood.
Rochester Public Library, Clarissa Street Legacy Collections is a member of the Rochester Regional Library Council.
Collections
Captain Charles Price was a graduate of James Madison High School and a member of the 332nd Fighter Group (the Tuskegee Airmen) before becoming the first African-American police officer in Rochester. He served on the force for 38 years, from 1947 to 1985.
Photographs and ephemera taken from display boards used at the annual Clarissa Street Reunion.
The Dinkle family lived for multiple generations in the Third Ward, possibly best known for their deep involvement with the Boy Scouts.
Joan Coles-Howard, daughter of pioneering newspaper editor Howard Coles, is an author, marketing expert, and was the owner of iconic Rochester retailers Uhuru and All Day Sunday.
Bobby Johnson was the unofficial poet laureate of the Third Ward, and was a well-known figure in the community alongside his wife, Leslie Locketz.
Sharon Turner is a professional photographer working in Rochester, N. Y.'s Third Ward who has extensively documented the Clarissa Street Reunion gatherings over time.