Library Profiles & Subject Teams

Kristen J. Nyitray is Associate Librarian and Director, Special Collections & University Archives, and University Archivist. She can assist with questions about archival collections, manuscripts, rare and special books, historical maps, and the history of Stony Brook University.

Books

• Nyitray, Kristen J. Long Island Beaches. Postcard History Series. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2019. 
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Ann M. Becker. Stony Brook: State University of New York. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2002.

Book Chapters

• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Dana Reijerkerk. “Transliteracy in Archives: Engaging Students with Primary Sources.” In Libraries Empowering Society Through Digital Literacy, edited by Prudence Dalrymple, Heather Todd, Luisa Marquardt, and Charles Wanjala. IFLA/De Gruyter Library Publication Series (in press, 2025).
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Dana Reijerkerk. “Archivists and Emotional Labor: Preserving Personas and Personal Identities in Archives.” In Archives and Emotions: An International Dialogue - Past, Present, and Future, edited by Ilaria Scaglia and Valeria Vanesio. History of Emotions, Peter N. Stearns (series editor) and Susan J. Matt (series editor). (London; New York: Bloomsbury, 2024): 163-184.
• Reijerkerk, Dana and Kristen J. Nyitray. “Flexible Work Empowers: An Inclusive Strategy for Recruitment and Retention of Academic Librarians.” In Innovative Library Workplaces: Transformative Human Resource Strategies, edited by Lisa Kallman Hopkins and Bridgit McCafferty (Chicago: ACRL Editions, 2024): 271-282.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Dana Reijerkerk. “Librarian Mentorship through Mutual Scholarship: An Approach to Foster Higher Morale and Strengthen Collegiality.” In Toxic Dynamics: Disrupting, Dismantling, and Transforming Academic Library Culture, edited by Monica D.T. Rysavy, Russell S. Michalak, Trevor A. Dawes, and Jon Cawthorne (Chicago: ACRL Editions, 2024): 303-325
• Reijerkerk, Dana and Kristen J. Nyitray. “Mind the (Training) Gap: A Case Study in Assessing Metadata Competences by Transforming Records for a Multi-System Migration,” In Transforming Technical Services through Training and Development, edited by Marlee D. Givens and Sofia Slutskaya (Chicago, IL: ALA Editions, 2022): 69-78.

Peer-Reviewed Articles

• Nyitray, Kristen J. “Archival Enterprise Across Early Modern Europe: A Review Essay.” Provenance, Journal of the Society of Georgia Archivists 39, no. 1 (2023).  https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/provenance/vol39/iss1/1.
• Reijerkerk, Dana and Kristen J. Nyitray. “A Role by Any Other Name: A Content Analysis of Digital Asset Management on Library and Archives Job Boards.” Journal of Digital Media Management 11, no. 2 (2023): 180-189. 
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Dana Reijerkerk. “From Pathfinder to Indigenized: An Assessment of LibGuides for Indigenous Studies by ARL Member Institutions.” College & Research Libraries 83, no. 6 (2022): 1014-1031. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.83.6.1014, https://crl.acrl.org/index.php/crl/article/view/25299.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Christine Fena. “More than Recipes: Enriching a Campus Common Read with Historical Cookbooks.” Teaching with Primary Sources, Case 23, Society of American Archivists (July 2022): 1-13. 
  https://www2.archivists.org/sites/all/files/TWPSCase_23_More_Than_Recipes.pdf.
• Nyitray, Kristen J., Dana Reijerkerk, and Chris Kretz. “‘There Will Be an End, But We Don’t Know When’: Preserving Diverse COVID-19 Pandemic Experiences Through Oral History.” Collections: A Journal for Museum and Archives Professionals 18, no. 2 (June 2022): 280-300. https://doi.org/10.1177/15501906221079052.
• Reijerkerk, Dana and Kristen J. Nyitray. “(Re)Moving Indigenous Knowledge Boundaries: A Review of Library and Archival Collection Literature Since the Enactment of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).” Collection Management 48, no. 1 (2022): 22-47. doi: 10.1080/01462679.2022.2033144.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Dana Reijerkerk. “Searching for Paumanok: Methodology for a Study of Library of Congress Authorities and Classifications for Indigenous Long Island, New York.” Cataloging & Classification Quarterly 60, no. 2: (2022) 19-44. DOI: 10.1080/01639374.2021.1989640. Dataset: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.17205846.v1. Open access: https://commons.library.stonybrook.edu/library_articles/44.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Dana Reijerkerk. “Digital Repository Legacies: A Case Study in Assessing Organizational Trustworthiness.” Journal of Library Administration 61, no. 7 (2021): 793-812. https://doi.org/10.1080/01930826.2021.1972729.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Dana Reijerkerk. “Searching for Paumanok: A Study of Library of Congress Authorities and Classifications for Indigenous Long Island, New York.” Cataloging & Classification Quarterly 59, no. 5 (2021): 409-441. DOI: 10.1080/01639374.2021.1929627. Open access: https://commons.library.stonybrook.edu/library_articles/45.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Sally Stieglitz. “Spies in the Archive: Acquiring Revolutionary War Letters Through Community Engagement.” RBM: A Journal of Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Cultural Heritage 18, no. 2: 44-58 (2017). DOI: https://doi.org/10.5860/rbm.18.1.44.

Additional Articles

• Nyitray, Kristen J. “Game on to Game After: Sources for Videogame History.” The Alert Collector. Reference & User Services Quarterly 59, no. 1 (Fall 2019): 7-11. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5860/rusq.59.1.7219.
• Stieglitz, Sally and Kristen J. Nyitray. “Using Oral History to Assess Community Impact: A Conversation with Beverly C. Tyler, Historian, Three Village Historical Society.” Engaged Scholar Journal 22, no. 2 (2017): 115-122. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15402/esj.v2i2.166. 
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Lisa Patterson. “Chinese Culinary History.” Flavor and Fortune 19, no. 1 (2012): 33, 35. 
• Nyitray, Kristen J. “William Alfred Higinbotham: Scientist, Activist, and Computer Game Pioneer.” Biographies. IEEE Annals of the History of Computing 33, no. 2 (April-June 2011): 96-101. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/5771315.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. “The AIDC 100 Archives” and “Library Overview: Stony Brook University.” In Celebrating Research: Rare and Special Collections from the Membership of the Association of Research Libraries edited by Philip N. Cronenwett, Kevin Osborn, and Samuel Allen Streit. Washington, DC: Association of Research Libraries, 2008.

Popular Media Articles

Nyitray, Kristen J. Standing feature “Rare Treasures” in the digital edition of Stony Brook University Magazine. 
https://mag.stonybrook.edu/category/extras/rare-treasures

• "Mapping Space and Time," Spring 2025
• “Preserving History,” Winter 2024
• “Bytes of History,” Spring 2024
• “Melville Milestone,” Fall 2023 
• “Environmental Champions,” Spring 2023 
• “Cooking Up History,” Fall 2022
•  “Poetic Beauty,” Spring 2022 
• “Trailblazing Women,” Fall 2021 
• “From Special Collections,” Spring 2021

Blog Posts

• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Dana Reijerkerk. “Using Native-Land.ca Data for Studying Indigenous Long Island, New York.” Guest blog post. Native Land Digital. Published September 27, 2021. https://medium.com/@native-land/using-native-land-ca-data-for-studying-indigenous-long-island-new-york-116574bb10b9.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. Stony Brook University Libraries, News Blog, 2006-present.
• Authored more than 250 blog posts to promote the department and related library activities. https://library.stonybrook.edu/author/knyitray

____________________________________________________________________________________
PRESENTATIONS 

Academic Conferences

• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Dana Reijerkerk. “Prophesying AI in the Archive: Archivists’ Emotional Labor, Public Encounters, and Private Personas.” Digital Public History in a Divided World, Centre for Public History, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland, September 12, 2024. (virtual)
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Christine Fena. “More than Recipes: Enriching a Campus Common Read with Historical Cookbooks.” Lightning talk presenter at Light It Up, the Southeastern Archives Association and the Society of Georgia Archives Virtual Summer Symposium, June 13, 2024. (virtual)
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Dana Reijerkerk. “Searching for Paumanok: Enhancing Access to Indigenous Long Island in Research Collections.” Presenter at 28th Annual Long Island Archives Conference: Transcending Barriers: Opening Archives, Opening Minds, Long Island Library Resources Council, State University of New York, College at Westbury, Westbury, New York, October 23, 2023.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Dana Reijerkerk. “Embedding Decolonizing Methodologies in Open Educational Resources (OERs) for Indigenous Studies.” Lightning talk presenter at SUNY (State University of New York) OER Summit (Theme: OER and Equity), October 12, 2023. (virtual) 
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Dana Reijerkerk. “Transliteracy in Archives: Engaging Students with Primary Sources.” Presenter at Libraries Empowering Society through Digital Literacy Education - Celebrating IFLA’s Upcoming Book, IFLA Information Literacy Section (ILS) Satellite Meeting, Delft University of Technology Library, Delft, Netherlands, August 18, 2023. (virtual; pre-recorded)
• Reijerkerk, Dana and Kristen J. Nyitray. “Mind the (Training) Gap: Assessing Metadata Competences During a Multi-System Migration.” Presenter at the American Library Association, eLearning Core Webinar hosted by CORE: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures, July 19, 2023. (virtual) 
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Dana Reijerkerk. “From Pathfinder to Indigenized: An Assessment of LibGuides for Indigenous Studies by ARL Member Institutions.” Poster presentation given at the Society of American Archivists Research Forum, July 12, 2023. (virtual) abstract: https://www2.archivists.org/sites/all/files/1.2.9_Nyitray_Reijerkerk_abstract-bio.docx_0.pdf 
  poster: https://www2.archivists.org/sites/all/files/1.2.9_Nyitray-Reijerjerk_poster.pdf 
• Reijerkerk, Dana and Kristen J. Nyitray. “More than Remotely Possible: Flexible Work Arrangements for Inclusive Recruitment and Retention.” Poster presentation given at the Society of American Archivists Research Forum, July 12, 2023. (virtual)
  abstract: https://www2.archivists.org/sites/all/files/1.2.7_Reijerkerk_Nyitray_abstract-bio.docx_0.pdf
  poster: https://www2.archivists.org/sites/all/files/1.2.7_Reijerjerk-Nyitray_poster.pdf 
• Reijerkerk, Dana and Kristen J. Nyitray. “Reality Bytes: Strategies for Evaluating and Communicating the Virtual Realities of Digital Repositories.” Presenter at the Southern Miss Institutional Repository Conference, University of Southern Mississippi, April 27-28, 2023. (virtual) 
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Dana Reijerkerk. “Game (not) Over: The Genesis, Death, and Afterlife of a Video Game Archive.” Presenter at Item Not Found: Accounting for Loss in Libraries, Archives and Other Heritage and Memory Institutions: A Virtual Conference, UCLA William Andrews Clark Memorial Library and Oakland University Libraries, March 8, 2023. Also delivered co-presenter’s part in absentia. (virtual)
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Dana Reijerkerk. “Radical Acceptance in the Archive: Emotionality of Acquiring and Letting Go of Collections.” Presenter at Archives and Emotions, Department of Library Information and Archive Sciences, Faculty of Media & Knowledge Sciences (MAKS) of the University of Malta and the Department of Politics, History and International Relations, Aston University of Birmingham, October 7, 2022. (virtual)
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Dana Reijerkerk. “Mentoring through Mutual Scholarship: An Approach to Foster Collegiality and Positive Morale.” Presenter at ACRL NY Professional Development, New York, NY, September 30, 2022. (virtual) 
• Nyitray, Kristen J., Dana Reijerkerk, and Richard Sapon-White. “Without Warrant: Strategies for Remedying LOC’s Exclusion of Indigenous Communities in New York and Oregon.” Presenter at What Now? Reflection, Reckoning, and Recovery, ACRL Rare Books and Manuscripts Section Conference, Yale University, New Haven, CT, June 23, 2022. (virtual) 
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Dana Reijerkerk. “Digital Repository Legacies: A Case Study in Assessing Organizational Trustworthiness.” Presenter at Northeast Institutional Repository Day (NIRD) 2021, December 2, 2021. (virtual)
• Nyitray, Kristen J., Dana Reijerkerk, and Chris Kretz. “Documenting COVID-19: Stony Brook University Experiences.” Presentator at the New York Archives Conference, June 11, 2021. (virtual)
• Reijerkerk, Dana and Kristen J. Nyitray, “The Art of Metadata Management: Navigating an IR Migration Remotely Across Departmental Boundaries,” Presenter at the 2021 Southern Miss Institutional Repository Conference, University of Southern Mississippi, April 30, 2021. (virtual)
• Nyitray, Kristen J. “Creating the Standards-Based OER Tutorial: Using Primary Sources in Research.” Presenter and panelist at the 5th Annual Open Access Symposium - Toward Equity and Open Access. Charles B. Wang Center, Stony Brook University. March 6, 2020.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. “Marketing Special Collections Through Books.” Invited speaker and panelist for Long Island Libraries Resources Council, 24th Annual Archives Conference - Marketing Special Collections in the 21st Century. Milleridge Inn, Jericho, NY, November 4, 2019.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. “Minding the Archive: The Max Fink Papers at Stony Brook University.” Invited speaker and panelist for Long Island Libraries Resources Council, 23rd Annual Archives Conference - Medical Archives, Processing, Privacy and Preservation. Brentwood Country Club, Brentwood, NY, October 12, 2018.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Sally Stieglitz. “Community Engagement and Outreach Using Primary Sources.” Invited speaker to present at the Libraries Research and Innovation Forum. Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, May 7, 2018. 
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Robert Tolliver. “Historical and Recent Maps of Long Island.” Presenter at the Long Island Geographical Information System (GIS) Users Conference. Charles B. Wang Center, Stony Brook University, November 16, 2017.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Sally Stieglitz. “A Revolution in Special Collections: Acquiring George Washington Spy Letters through Community Engagement.” Presenter and panelists at New York 2017 Archives Week Symposium - Archives and Local History. Center for Jewish History, New York, NY, October 19, 2017.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. “Navigating Long Island History with Maps.” Presenter and panelist at The Identification, Care, and Use of Maps. Long Island Library Resources Council. Longwood Public Library, Middle Island, NY, March 20, 2017.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. “Looking Back, Looking Forward: From Growing Pains to Maturity.” Presenter and panelist at the Society for College and University Planning, 2014 North Atlantic Symposium - Building for Excellence from the Ground Up: Stony Brook First 50 Years. Hilton Garden Inn, Stony Brook, NY, October 24, 2014.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. “The People of Long Island.” Presentation and panelist at the 18^thAnnual Archives Month Conference. Long Island Libraries Resources Council and the Documentary Heritage Program of the New York State Archives. Bethpage State Park, NY, October 4, 2013. 
• Nyitray, Kristen J. “George Washington, Culper Spy Ring, and Setauket.” Presenter at Rebels, Resisters, and Rioters: New Yorkers Respond to the American Revolution and to the Civil War. Three Village Historical Society. Charles B, Wang Center, Stony Brook University, November 12, 2011.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. “William A. Higinbotham Game Studies Collection at Stony Brook University.” With Raiford Guins and Hélène Volat. Presenter and panelist at The Beginnings of Video Games on the occasion of WHGSC’s two-day Game Preservation Forum, Museum of the Moving Image, Astoria, NY, October 1 2011. http://aws.reverseshot.com/files/pages/about/beginnings_of_video_games_2011-09-16.pdf 
• Nyitray, Kristen J. “The Librarian Documentarian: Innovative Ways for Libraries to Document and Celebrate Institutional History.” Presenter and panelist at the 2009 Long Island Library Conference. Crest Hollow Country Club, Woodbury, NY, May 7, 2009.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Ann M. Becker. “Stony Brook: State University of New York.” Presenter at the State University of New York Librarians Association (SUNYLA) 2003: Waves of Change, Oceans of Opportunities, Frank Melville Jr. Memorial Library, Stony Brook, NY, June 5, 2003.

Invited Lectures and Talks (selected)

• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Dana Reijerkerk. Panel discussion and book launch for Archives and Emotions: International Dialogues Across Past, Present, and Future (London; New York: Bloomsbury, 2024). The National Archives United Kingdom, The Kew and online. January 24, 2025.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. “Mapping, Naming, and Mythologizing Indigenous Long Island.” Three Village Historical Society Lecture Series, Neighborhood House, Setauket, New York, November 13, 2023.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. Invited speaker to present “Isle of Shells: An Illustrated History of Long Island Beaches.” Nassau County Historical Society, June 6, 2021. (virtual).
• Nyitray, Kristen J. Invited speaker to present “Stony Brook University: Now and Then.” Stony Brook University Alumni Relations, Classes of 1970 and 1971. June 5, 2021. (virtual).
• Nyitray, Kristen J. Invited speaker to present “Isle of Shells: A History of Long Island Beaches.” Three Village Historical Society, August 17, 2020 (virtual).
• Nyitray, Kristen J. Invited speaker to present “Long Island Beaches: An Illustrated History.” Brentwood Public Library, Brentwood, NY, August 13, 2020 (virtual).
• Nyitray, Kristen J. Invited speaker to present “Spies in the Archive.” Long Island Maritime Museum, West Sayville, NY, March 8, 2020.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. Invited speaker to present “Evermore a Neighbor: The Life and Legacy of Eversley Childs.” Three Village Historical Society. Neighborhood House, Setauket, NY, October 15, 2018.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. Invited speaker to present “To His Friends at Setauket.” Lecture and viewing of George Washington letters. Three Village Historical Society. Neighborhood House, Setauket, NY, July 16. 2018.

Lectures and Talks at Stony Brook University (selected)

• Nyitray, Kristen J. “A Research University Emerges” and “The Modern Research University. Jim Simons: A Life of Scholarship, Leadership and Philanthropy. Simons Center for Geometry and Physics, Stony Brook University, October 23, 2024.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. “History of  Long Island Pride Parade Inc.” and display in conjunction with the book discussion Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe. University Libraries’ 4-Week Zine event series in celebration of LGBT History month. October 16, 2024.
• Nyitray, Kristen J. Presentation on Indigenous Long Island research. University Libraries brown bag research and conference forum. Stony Brook University Libraries. April 19, 2023. (virtual).
• Reijerkerk, Dana and Kristen J. Nyitray. “Research Methods and Sources for Indigenous Studies,” Presented for Native American Heritage Month, November 4, 2021 (virtual).
• Nyitray, Kristen J. and Christine Fena. “More Than Recipes: A Taste of the Jacqueline M. Newman Chinese Cookbook Collection,” Presented for One Book, One Community (Campus Common Read), November 1, 2021 (virtual).
• Nyitray, Kristen J. Invited speaker to present “Creation of a Campus: An Early and Architectural History of Stony Brook University.” Three Village Historical Society, Setauket, NY, April 19, 2021. (virtual)
• Nyitray, Kristen J. Invited speaker to present “An Early History of Stony Brook University.” University Advancement, Stony Brook University, April 2, 2021. (virtual)
• Nyitray, Kristen J., Dana Reijerkerk, and Chris Kretz. Invited speaker to present “Documenting COVID-19: Stony Brook University Experiences.” Library Life Series, Stony Brook University Libraries, Stony Brook, NY, March 11, 2021. (virtual)
• Nyitray, Kristen J. Invited speaker to present “Spies in the Archive: George Washington Letters at Stony  Brook University.” Culper Spy Weekend. September 12, 2020. (virtual)