Photographs: Stony Brook Campus 50 Years Ago
Thanks to SBU alum Daniel Lack (Class of ’75, B.S. in Biology), a fascinating collection
of fifteen historical photographs offers a rare glimpse into campus life during the
university’s formative years. Dr. Lack took these pictures as a student in 1975 and
generously contributed them to the University Archives to help preserve Stony Brook’s
visual history.
These photographs of Stony Brook reveal a striking contrast to the bustling, modern research institution we know today. Half a century ago, Stony Brook was still taking shape - many of the now-familiar buildings were newly constructed or yet to rise from the drawing board. The archival images show wide-open fields, sparse clusters of concrete academic buildings, and fewer trees compared to the landscaped grounds of today. The scenes highlight not just how much the campus has changed physically, but how far the university has come in its mission and spirit.
Over the past five decades, Stony Brook has transformed from a young state college into a leading public research university - a center of innovation, discovery, and community. These photographs remind us of that remarkable journey and the people who helped shape it. For more information about our photograph collections, please contact us.
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Psychology A (left), Earth and Space Sciences (center), Library (right), 1975. Photograph by Daniel Lack, 1975, BS Biology.
Library (left), Bridge to Nowhere (center), Chemistry (background), 1975. Photograph by Daniel Lack, 1975, BS Biology.
Psychology A and B, 1975. Photograph by Daniel Lack, 1975, BS Biology.
Library (later Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library), 1975. Photograph by Daniel Lack, 1975, BS Biology.
Fine Arts, 1975. Photograph by Daniel Lack, 1975, BS Biology.
Administration, 1975. Photograph by Daniel Lack, 1975, BS Biology.
Chemistry (later Old Chemistry; today Frey Hall) and Chemistry (background), 1975.
Photograph by Daniel Lack, 1975, BS Biology.
Humanities, 1975. Photograph by Daniel Lack, 1975, BS Biology.
Lecture Hall (later Jacob K. Javits Lecture Hall), 1975. Photograph by Daniel Lack,
1975, BS Biology.
Engineering Quad, 1975. Photograph by Daniel Lack, 1975, BS Biology.
Earth and Space Sciences, 1975. Photograph by Daniel Lack, 1975, BS Biology.
Math and Physics, 1975. Photograph by Daniel Lack, 1975, BS Biology.
Basic Health Sciences Research Tower, 1975. Photograph by Daniel Lack, 1975, BS Biology.
Gym, 1975. Photograph by Daniel Lack, 1975, BS Biology.
Physics, 1975. Photograph by Daniel Lack, 1975, BS Biology.