The University Libraries is pleased to announce that Dan’s Papers founder Dan Rattiner has donated more than a half century’s worth of his personal archives. Spanning 1960 to 2023, the collection is the most complete print run of Dan’s Papers held by a research library. It is currently undergoing a preservation assessment with the intention to microfilm and digitize it, to make the collection freely available online. Once preservation and space assessments are complete, the University Libraries anticipate eventually having the original print newspapers accessible to the public.
Karim Boughida, Dean of Stony Brook University Libraries tweeted, “Big thank you to Dan Rattiner @danspapers for the generous donation of his archives to our library! His contribution will help expand our resources and support our community’s love for learning and research.” Jamie Saragossi, Interim Associate Dean of Collection Strategy and Management at Stony Brook University said, “We are very excited to have Dan’s Papers as a part of Stony Brook University Libraries’ collections,” adding that it will benefit their mission and the research community.
The archives will be part of Special Collections, the library division that stewards and curates the university’s collections of rare books and maps, archival collections, manuscripts and more. This collection complements Rattiner’s donation in 2007 of personal papers and newspapers to the Special Collections. “Dan’s Papers is an important addition to the library’s distinctive collections because of its depth and coverage of the social, political, and environmental history of Long Island,” said Kristen J. Nyitray, Director of Special Collections and University Archives. Long Island and regional history is the primary collecting emphasis of Special Collections.
Since Rattiner founded Dan’s Papers 63 years ago, it has grown into the only weekly publication covering the entire East End. “I started by taking the first paper home once it was printed and kept doing it,” said Rattiner. “I hope that people will enjoy reading the publication … I think people will learn why so many have come out here to enjoy this place …”
Excerpted in part from Dan’s Papers, April 14, 2023.
Kristen Nyitray
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