Suffolk Reporter

The Marian B. and Jacob K. Javits Foundation has donated $1 million to establish the largest endowment for Stony Brook University (SBU) Libraries. This funding aims to preserve, promote, and make accessible the Senator Jacob K. Javits Collection at Stony Brook University. The collection is intended to be a resource for the public, scholars, and elected officials to explore and build upon the legacy of Senator Javits' work.

Senator Jacob Javits was instrumental in shaping national policies on civil rights, social justice, arts, and environmental protection during his over thirty years as an elected official from New York. He maintained a strong relationship with former Stony Brook University President John H. Marburger III and frequently visited the university to engage with faculty and students through lectures. In 1981, he donated his papers documenting his 34-year political career to Stony Brook University. At that time, Javits expressed hope that "this collection will be a source of creativity in human and governmental endeavors."

Kristen Nyitray, director of Special Collections and University Archives at SBU Libraries, stated that "this collection serves as a powerful educational resource." She emphasized its value not only as an archive of past events but also as a tool for informed citizenship and critical thinking about current and future issues.

The collection comprises nearly two million items such as speeches, bills, campaign literature, audio and film recordings, photographs, artifacts, memorabilia, cartoons, and correspondence. Jamie Saragossi, associate librarian and associate dean of content services at SBU Libraries highlighted that these documents provide insights into Javits’ political career along with his intellectual development and decision-making processes which influenced American history.

Readers can find more details in Christine McGrath's full story published by SB Matters.