Creation of a Campus: An Early and Architectural History of SBU

Setauket, NY – The Three Village Historical Society lecture series hosts prominent and emerging historians, authors, genealogists, archeologists and storytellers from around the nation and presents topics related to local history, heritage conservation, social justice, art history, and more. For decades, TVHS public programming has provided a stimulating environment for the exploration of history and ideas that permeate the culture and community of the Three Village area, and beyond.

In early 2020, when the world went on “lock-down”, TVHS shifted gears and began hosting this treasured event virtually via Zoom on a monthly basis and the Society will continue to do so for 2021. Unless otherwise noted, all lectures begin at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time and will be held on Zoom and moderated by Mari Irizarry, TVHS Creative Services Director. The Virtual Lecture Series is open to public, with a $5 general admission suggested donation and is free for TVHS members, though registration is required at www.tvhs.org/lecture-series.

April 19th, 2021 at 7pm EST

Guest Speaker: Kristen Nyitray, Director, Special Collections and University Archives at Stony Brook University

Creation of a Campus: An Early and Architectural History of Stony Brook University

Beginning in the 1940s, comprehensive planning by the State University of New York (SUNY) transformed public higher education and created new educational opportunities across the state. Long Island was identified as a geographic region in need of colleges and universities to serve the growing population of the region. Stony Brook was selected as the site for the only university in the SUNY system to begin de novo - to be established on undeveloped land. In just a few decades, woodlands were dramatically transformed into a major research institution. Kristen Nyitray will discuss this history with archival photographs, maps, and documents to illustrate the early years of Stony Brook University, with an emphasis on construction and architecture through 1980.

Kristen J. Nyitray is Associate Librarian and Director of Special Collections and University Archives, and University Archivist at Stony Brook University. She is the author of the books Long Island Beaches and Stony Brook: State University of New York. Her current research is focused on Indigenous Long Island. She is a member of the Academy of Certified Archivists and recipient of the Chancellor’s Award (State University of New York) and the President’s Award (Stony Brook University) for Excellence in Librarianship.

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ABOUT TVHS -- The Three Village Historical Society (TVHS), a non-profit 501(c)(3) founded in 1964 by community members, exists to educate the public about our rich cultural heritage as well as foster and preserve local history. TVHS offers museum exhibits, events, programs, archives, and other outreach initiatives to inform and enrich the public’s interest in and understanding of the vibrant past of the Three Village area along the north shore in Suffolk County, Long Island.