RG 079:017, State Park and Forest Commission

Inventory of Records

Finding aid prepared by Connecticut State Library staff.

Copyright © 2008 by the Connecticut State Library

Historical Note

In 1911 the General Assembly create a temporary, special State Park Commission per Public Acts chpt. 224 consisting of three members to consider the advisability of the State securing open spaces for the use of the public and to report to the next General Assembly a plan for organizing, acquiring and maintaining these open spaces. This Commission reported to the 1913 General Assembly of both the need and the possibilities of the acquisition of recreational areas.¹ In 1913 the Assembly created a permanent State Park Commission per Public Acts chpt. 230 consisting of six members with the State Forester as ex-officio. The Commission was charged with "supervision of all lands acquired by the state, as public reservations, for the purpose of public recreation or the preservation of natural beauty or historic association, except such lands as may be palced by law in the charge and under the supervision of other commissions or officials. The commission also had the power to "acquire, maintain, and make available to the public open spaces for recreation, adn to act with local authorities."²

The Commission's first concern was the establishment of policies to determine the proper type of area to be included in the Connecticut State Park System. In 1914 the Commission hired its first employee, Albert M. Turner, who served as its Field Secretary. That same year the first purchase of land to provide open space for public was made consisting of five acres of salt marsh in Westport that became known as Sherwood Island State Park. Gifts played an important part of land acquisitions made by the Commission. In 1919 the Commission hired the first State Park Superintendent, Arthur V. Parker, whose responsibility was to develop and maintain the park system.³

In 1921 the name was changed to the State Park and Forest Commission per Public Acts chpt. 193. The new Commission now had the authority to appoint the State Forester.⁴ In 1971 the Commission was absorbed into the new Department of Environmental Protection.

See also the State Park and Forest Commission Agency History.

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Scope and Content

Includes Minutes, 1913-1947; Correspondence from E. H. Wilkins, Treasurer, 1908-1916, Albert M. Turner, Field Secretary, 1916-1941, Austin F. Hawes, State Forester, 1923-1939, and Harley F. Roberts, President of the Black Rock Forest, Inc., 1920-1928; and Reports, 1913-1967, including Biennial Reports, 1913-1934.

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Arrangement

Series 1. Meeting Minutes, 1913-1965
Accession: 1996-024, 1913-1965 Accession: 1995-071, 1921-1947

Series 2. Correspondence, 1908-1940, Accession: 1995-071

Series 3. Reports, 1913-1967, Accession: 1995-071

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

These records are stored at an off-site facility and therefore may not be available on a same-day basis.

See the Rules and Procedures for Researchers Using Archival Records and Secured Collections policy.

Restrictions on Use

See the Reproduction and Publications of State Library Collections policy.

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Related Material

RG 079:016, Deptartment of Environmental Protection: Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation

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Index Terms

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Subjects:

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