Washington's Secrets: University Acquires President's Letter to Spymaster

Stony Brook University has acquired a secret wartime letter from Gen. George Washington to his chief spy for $96,000 at an auction at Christie’s in Manhattan. Written from “Head Quarters Westpoint” on Sept. 24, 1779, the missive to Gen. Benjamin Tallmadge, the Revolutionary Army’s spymaster, focuses on the activities of Robert Townsend, another secret agent, from Oyster Bay, Long Island. The letter, signed as Commander in Chief by Washington, refers to Townsend by his code name, Culper Jr., and refers to techniques used in the spying, including invisible ink.

Stony Brook’s Special Collections, with a contribution from Henry Laufer (a former Mathematics professor at the University) and State funds provided by Assemblyman Steven Englebright, acquired the letter, which will be on display at the University. The location of the display will be announced in the next few months. (Please click here for more information)

Summer Borrowing Privileges

All students (including doctoral candidates) must be registered for the Summer or Fall semester in order to qualify for Summer library borrowing privileges.

After registering, it can take 24 to 36 hours for registration information to be reflected on your borrowing record. At that time, you may renew your material at the library or online. All library patrons are responsible for checking their STARS accounts online to ensure that items have been properly renewed and that no materials are overdue. Patrons are liable for any library fines accrued.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Time to renew your library materials

Faculty, Management Confidential, Emeritus and Professional staff who currently have borrowed library material from the Main, Music and/or Science/Engineering Library, with a due date of May 16, 2006 are urged to renew at this time. The new due date, after properly renewing, will be December 22, 2006.

For information on how to renew via STARS/OPAC, please go to the renewal info page.

To renew in person, please present your ID card to service desk staff. It is not necessary to bring the material into the library in order to have them renewed. There are no phone renewals.

Thank you.

Lecture and Reception in Celebration of the Richard Vetere Collection on Tuesday, May 2

Richard Vetere will be on campus to visit classes and participate in a dedication ceremony for his archive to Stony Brook University Library's Special Collections Department. His novel, The Third Miracle, will be available for purchase and book signing by the author. Coffee reception following ceremonies. Please join us on Tuesday, May 2 at 1 pm in the Center for Italian Studies, Melville Library, room E-4340. Free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Center for Italian Studies and the University Libraries.

Changes in Library Fines (Important)

Beginning on June 1, 2006 the following important changes will go into effect:

The library borrowing block will decrease from $15.00 to $5.00.

Overdue fines for hourly Reserve items will increase from 2 cents per minute to 10 cents.

Maximum overdue fines for regular loan books will increase from $10.00 to $15.00.

The maximum fine for Reserve loans will increase from $20.00 to $85.00.