University of Nebraska Press
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The University of Nebraska Press (UNP) was founded in 1941 and is an
Since its inception, UNP has published more than 4,000 books and 30 journals, adding another 150 new titles each year, making it the 12th largest university press in the United States.[3] Since 2010, two of UNP's books have received the Bancroft Prize, the highest honor bestowed on history books in the U.S.
Domestic distribution for the press is currently provided by the University of North Carolina Press's Longleaf Services.[4]
History
UNP began in November 1941 at the prompting of University of Nebraska Chancellor Chauncey Borcher, who hired Emily Schossberger as UNP's first editor. UNP became the 32nd American university press and 7th in the Midwest. During Schossberger's 17-year tenure UNP published 97 books, primarily focused on regional titles and the works of Louise Pound, Karl Shapiro, and George W. Norris. Following Schossberger's departure, Bruce Nicoll became UNP's first official director and Virginia Faulkner became editor-in-chief. Nicoll led the UNP for 17 years and expanded its focus to publish books of more diverse backgrounds, not simply monographs for and by scholars. That led to the launch of UNP's first imprint in 1961, Bison Books, specializing in paperback books which would be sold in non-traditional places such as truck stops, drug stores, and gas stations. In 1966 the press expanded by creating distribution partnerships overseas.[3]
In 1975, Dave Gilbert became UNP director and reoriented Bison Books toward a more western focus. Gilbert also hired designer Richard Eckersley and his wife Dika to bring all book design in house. Gilbert eventually left UNP for a post at Cornell University and was succeeded by editor-in-chief Bill Regier, UNP's third full-time director. Regier expanded UNP's focus beyond the American West. UNP into foreign translations and literature, particularly France and Scandinavia, with three translation authors later receiving Nobel Prizes. By 1991, UNP had 2,000 books in print, was adding 100 new books a year, and had annual sales of $4.5 million. In 1995, Dan Ross took over as UNP's fourth director, expanding Bison Books to focus on sports books, especially baseball, resulting in UNP's highly regarded publishing program in sports.[5] That same year UNP's annual sales topped $6 million, a 600 percent increase from 1980.[3]
By the early 2000s, Gary Dunham took over as director and in 2009 UNP sold its longtime warehouse in the Haymarket. With Donna Shear as editor-in-chief, Bison Books was redefined to solely represent books of the west and UNP in general switched to a print-on-demand model of publishing, coordinating the simultaneous release of e-books with the print editions. Shear also tripled journal production to 30 publications and in September 2011 the press entered into a collaborative publishing arrangement with the Jewish Publication Society, one of the oldest Jewish publishers in the United States.[3] In April 2013, the press acquired Potomac Books,[6] a publisher specializing in military and diplomatic topics. With the new additions, UNP surpassed $7 million in sales in 2015, moved up in status with the American Association of University Presses, and become the 12th largest university press in the country.[3] Since 2010, two of the press' books have received the Bancroft Prize, the highest honor bestowed on history books in the U.S.
Imprints
Nebraska
Under its Nebraska imprint, UNP publishes both scholarly and general interest books, with a particular focus on Native and Indigenous studies, history, sports history, American studies and cultural criticism, environmental studies, anthropology, and creative works.[7] UNP publishes scholarly editions of the works of Willa Cather, including the classics My Ántonia and O Pioneers!.
Bison Books
Bison Books began in 1961 as UNP's first trade imprint and originally focused on inexpensive paperbacks of general-interest works in Western
Potomac Books
Potomac Books began in 1983 as
Jewish Publication Society
The
See also
- List of English-language book publishing companies
- List of university presses
- Prairie Schooner magazine
- Nineteenth-Century French Studies (scholarly journal)
References
- ^ For Booksellers
- ^ "UNL | Nebraska Notables | Programs". University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Anderson, Erin (November 19, 2016). "University of Nebraska Press celebrates 75 years". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
- ^ "Client Publishers". Longleaf Services. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- New York Times. April 2, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
- ^ "Potomac Books - Home/Recent Releases". Potomacbooksinc.com. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
- ^ "About the Nebraska Imprint". University of Nebraska Press. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- ^ "About Bison Books". University of Nebraska Press. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- ^ a b "University Press acquires Potomac Books". Lincoln Journal Star. March 26, 2013. p. A4 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Clifford, Helen. "Potomac Books acquired by University of Nebraska Press". The London Book Fair. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
- ^ "Rabbis aim to inject more morality into business". Religion News Service.