Catalog of Manuscript Collections

Creator: Anthony V. Cosenza (1914-1998) Extent: 4 boxes and 3 vols. Description: Cosenza was born in Hamden, Connecticut in 1914 and graduated from Hillhouse High School. He worked for the city of New Haven as Founder and Resident Chief Ranger of the West Rock Nature Recreation Center, retiring as Coordinator of the New Haven Nature Center in July 1979. He was an active participant in the Boy Scouts of America and an author of materials related to urban nature recreation.Collection contains bound diaries (1947-56) personal correspondence and photographs; correspondence, reports, and proposals relating to the Park Oaks Club, the West Rock Nature Center, the Urban Nature Reporters Association (UNRA), the Park-School Nature program, and the Springside Barnyard Center (1947-81); photographs of the Nature Center and zoo animals; and scrapbooks of the West Rock Recreation Center (1960-67, 1968-71). Research Topics: Cosenza's work in parks and recreation in New Haven; history of West Rock Nature Recreation Center