The Voice newspapers (by Howard W. Coles (editor and publisher))

Can download pdfs here via RMSC

1933-1996

Source: Rochester Museum and Science Center archives

The Voice newspapers (1933-1996) (by Howard W. Coles (editor and publisher))

Can also enter search keywords on RPL version

1933-1996

Source: Rochester Public Library (RochesterVoices.org)

Clarissa St: A Paradise Lost (Part 1, Part 2) (by Jim Memmott)

Overview of what happened with urban renewal on Clarissa Street.

February 12, 1997

Source: Democrat & Chronicle

Landmark Society’s 2020 “5 to Revive”

Listen to discussion of the Clarissa Street Corridor at timestamp 8:50-21:00

November 16, 2020

Source: WXXI’s Connections with Evan Dawson

Spirit of Corn Hill Lives: Photographing Rochester’s most historically diverse neighborhood (by George Cassidy Payne)

Photo review of the old Third Ward (now called Corn Hill), including plaque where the famous Delta Blues pioneer Son House lived for a time

September 2, 2016

Source: WordPress blog

Clarissa Street: The heartbeat of Rochester’s cultural history (by George Cassidy Payne)

Overview features Clarissa Street people and places

December 30, 2024

Source: Minority Reporter

November 27, 2023

Source: Southwest Tribune

Clarissa Street (by Carol McAlister)

Mentioned founding father of Black Rochester, AME Zion Rev. Thomas James, as well as the African American YWCA and Montgomery Center

2021

Source: Corn Hill Neighbors Association

The Third Ward & its Corn Hill Preservation District (by neighborhood volunteers)

Includes Black residents in 1834, see pdf pg 8 (pg. 5 of the booklet)

1984

Source: Neighborhood History Project, 1984 Rochester’s 150th anniversary

Clarissa Street neighborhood: 5 addresses of note (by Marcia Greenwood)

AME Zion Church, former home of Son House, church where Malcolm X gave his last speech, The Pythodd, and the house where the helicopter crashed in 1964

August 20, 2019

Source: Democrat & Chronicle

The Spirit of Corn Hill Lives: Photographing Rochester’s Most Historically Diverse Neighborhood (by David Kramer)

Includes a diverse & rosier picture of Corn Hill from perspective of white person living in PLEX neighborhood

September 2, 2016

Source: Talker of the Town blog

On his Day, remembering when Martin Luther King visited Rochester, January 8th, 1958 (by David Kramer)

Among other images, a large group photo of MLK surrounded by Rochester folks, including Dr. Lunsford at his side (incl. a photo owned by Chuck Price)

January 17, 2016

Source: Talker of the Town blog

Rebirth of a City previewing urban renewal that was coming to the Third Ward (28 min. special report)

VSW has digitized from VHS tape (poor quality)

Reactions from elders:

George: “Wow, thanks again for the walk down memory lane again This documentary should answer many of the questions that have been asked. It was great to see the old Plymouth Ave, and also a brief glimpse of old Clarissa St. I did personally know some of the people who were interviewed, Franklin Florence, Connie Mitchell, Rev. Gibson and Fred Gardiner who was my next door neighbor. I also liked seeing the old #3 school and the children crossing the street from my grammar school, Immaculate Conception. I know the YHA’s will learn a lot from watching this. Thanks again. I’m going to watch it again after I get rid of these goose bumps.”

September 9, 1965

Source: WROC-TV

Remarkable Residents from the Clarissa Street Corridor (by Corn Hill Neighbors Association)

A nod to former African American neighborhood in the now gentrified, renamed “Corn Hill”

2021

Source: Corn Hill Gazette: After Thoughts blog

April 2022

Source: Corn Hill Gazette; (Vol. 49: 2)

An attempt to explain where the new name for the gentrified neighborhood, “Corn Hill,” came from

In the 1970s, after Clarissa Street had been torn down by urban renewal, new neighbors rebranded and renamed the Third Ward. In this non-explanation, people can “choose their own favorite explanation” of the origin of new, gentrified name.

2018

Source: Corn Hill Neighbors Association

1982

Source: Visual Studies Workshop (VSW) Film/Video Collection (VSW.org)

Rochester Black Freedom Struggle Oral History Collection (by Interviewed by Laura Warren Hill)

Buddy born 1938 in Montour Falls, NY; 1947 moved to Roc Eastside; 1955 moved to Clarissa St (lived on both sides)

2008-2016

Source: University of Rochester Libraries

September 22, 2011

Source: University of Rochester Rare Books & Special Collections

African American Landmarks Initiative (by African American Landmarks Task Force)

Describes the impetus and process for the task force’s work and gives access to reports on Clarissa St. and other Black Rochester landmarks for potential design for historic preservation

April 29, 2014

Source: Landmark Society of Western New York

African American Historical Corridor (by African American Landmarks Task Force with Clark Patterson Lee Design)

Proposes innovative designs for preservation of Black historic landmarks around Rochester. (Pages 6-24 focus on Clarissa Street)

April 29, 2014

Source: Landmark Society of Western New York