The Long Island collections at Special Collections, Stony Brook University Libraries are premier sources for the study and research of regional history. The collections document how Long Island has been shaped by geography, the environment, social changes, culture, artistic and literary influences, and its people. Long Island history is a main collecting focus and the collections include primary and secondary source materials from the earliest settlers through the present.
Through the acquisition and preservation of diverse collections, and comprehensive reference and outreach services, Special Collections enrich the educational, scholarly, and entrepreneurial endeavors of Stony Brook University. Access to collections is open and equitable. All are welcome to pursue their research interests through Special Collections and University Archives.
Special Collections has been recognized and honored for its contributions to regional history. The New York Board of Regents and New York State Archives awarded the department with the “Annual Archives Award for Program Excellence in a Historical Records Repository.” In August 2012, a research guide for the department's Long Island documents and books was lauded by The Scout Report, a division of the National Science Foundation’s National Science Digital Library (NSDL) Project. In 2020, Special Collections and University Archives was the recipient of the Three Village Historical Society’s Kate Wheeler Strong Memorial Award in recognition of significant contributions toward the fostering of interest in local history and a fuller appreciation of the rich historical and cultural heritage of the Three Village community.
