History: Old Time Pic of Camp Upton

Written by Lon Cohen | 24. March 2020

A U.S. Army's Camp Upton, located in Yaphank, Long Island, was active during both World Wars, from 1917 until 1920, and from 1940 until 1946. The army base was named after Civil War figure Major General Emery Upton.

It was used to mobilize and train troops and also played a dark role in American history, serving as a Japanese internment camp during World War II.

Below we present some old pictures of Camp Upton while it was used as an Army base and before it became the site of Brookhaven National Lab in 1947.

Photo: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Bain News Service photograph collection (DLC) 2005682517 [LC-DIG-ggbain-25800 (digital file from original negative)]

Photograph shows soldiers sorting and organizing personnel records at Camp Upton, Yaphank, Long Island, New York State. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2016).

Photo: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Bain News Service photograph collection (DLC) 2005682517 [LC-DIG-ggbain-25283 (digital file from original negative)]

Photograph shows African American soldiers looking at packages at Camp Upton, a U.S. Army installation located on Long Island, in Yaphank, New York, during World War I. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2015)

Photo: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Bain News Service photograph collection (DLC) 2005682517 [LC-DIG-ggbain-26882 (digital file from original negative)]

1917 or 1918: Photograph shows the interior of the "Buffalo Auditorium" at Camp Upton, Yaphank, New York State with American, British and French flags. The auditorium was built and paid for by the African American 367th Infantry (sometimes known as the Buffalo Soldiers) stationed at Camp Upton. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2016)

Photo: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Bain News Service photograph collection (DLC) 2005682517 [LC-DIG-ggbain-25280 (digital file from original negative)]

1917 September 15 (date created or published later by Bain): Photograph shows soldiers at Camp Upton, a U.S. Army installation located on Long Island, in Yaphank, New York during World War I. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2015)

Photo: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Bain News Service photograph collection (DLC) 2005682517 [LC-DIG-ggbain-26880 (digital file from original negative)]

1918 May 27 (date created or published later by Bain): Photograph shows an African American jazz band during World War I probably in the "Buffalo Auditorium" at Camp Upton, Yaphank, Long Island, New York State. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2016 and related print in PR 06 CN 133)

Photo: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Bain News Service photograph collection (DLC) 2005682517 [LC-DIG-ds-09946 (digital file from original)]

1917: The arrival of the New Rochelle contingent at Camp Upton, Yaphank / Photograph by F.M. Stefano, Herald photographer. Photograph shows procession of men arriving for military service at Camp Upton, one carrying a sign stating: "From New Rochelle, '45 minutes from Broadway,' bound for Yaphank. Ready to do our bit."

Photo: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Bain News Service photograph collection (DLC) 2005682517 [LC-DIG-anrc-06837 (digital file from original)]

Aug. 1918: Camp Upton. Detail, leaving Red Cross house with load of knitted goods.

Photo: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Bain News Service photograph collection (DLC) 2005682517 [LC-DIG-anrc-06842 (digital file from original)]

Aug. 30, 1918: Camp Upton. Sergeant consults Field Directors concerning home troubles of one of his men.

Photo: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Bain News Service photograph collection (DLC) 2005682517 [LC-DIG-ppmsca-54713 (digital file from original)]

Between 1917 and 1918: Soldiers of 308th Infantry Regiment in uniform with lambs at Camp Upton, New York. Photograph shows group portrait of unidentified soldiers except for Private Elias Shaker at bottom right.

Photo: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, Bain News Service photograph collection (DLC) 2005682517 [LC-DIG-ggbain-25285 (digital file from original negative)]

Photograph shows cars at Camp Upton, a U.S. Army installation located on Long Island, in Yaphank, New York, during World War I. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2015)

Photo: Brookhaven National Lab.