The University of Nebraska Press: A Legacy of Scholarly Publishing
The University of Nebraska Press (UNP), an integral part of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, stands as a significant academic publisher with a rich history. Established in 1941, the press has evolved into the twelfth-largest university press in the United States, contributing significantly to the dissemination of knowledge and culture. With a mission to publish and make accessible works of intellectual and cultural significance that advance the boundaries of human knowledge and experience, the UNP has become a vital component of the university's commitment to teaching, research, and service.
Genesis and Early Years (1941-1958)
The genesis of the University of Nebraska Press can be traced back to November 1941. Chancellor Chauncey Samuel Boucher, recognizing the importance of a university press, spearheaded its establishment. He appointed Emily Schossberger as UNP's first editor, marking the beginning of a new chapter in the university's history. UNP became the 32nd American university press and seventh in the Midwest.
During Schossberger's seventeen-year tenure, the press published 97 books, primarily focusing on regional titles and the works of prominent figures such as Louise Pound, Karl Shapiro, and George W. Norris. These early publications laid the foundation for the press's future growth and established its commitment to regional scholarship.
Expansion and Diversification (1958-1991)
Following Schossberger's departure, Bruce Nicoll assumed the role of UNP's first official director, while Virginia Faulkner became editor-in-chief. Nicoll's leadership marked a period of expansion and diversification for the press. Recognizing the need to reach a broader audience, Nicoll 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 to be sold in non-traditional places such as truck stops, drug stores, and gas stations.
In 1975, Dave Gilbert became UNP director and reoriented Bison Books toward a more western focus. Gilbert hired designer Richard Eckersley and his wife Dika to bring all book design in-house. Gilbert eventually left 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 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 per year, and had annual sales of $4.5 million.
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Adaptation and Innovation (2000s-Present)
The early 2000s saw Gary Dunham take the helm as director. During his tenure, UNP sold its longtime warehouse in the Haymarket District in 2009. With Donna Shear as editor-in-chief, Bison Books was redefined to solely represent books of the west and UNP switched to a print-on-demand model of publishing, coordinating the simultaneous release of ebooks with the print editions. Shear also tripled journal production to thirty 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.
In April 2013, the press acquired Potomac Books, 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 Association of University Presses, and become the twelfth-largest university press in the country.
Key Imprints and Focus Areas
The University of Nebraska Press boasts several key imprints that contribute to its diverse publishing program:
- Bison Books: Established in 1961, Bison Books initially focused on inexpensive paperbacks of general-interest works in Western Americana. In 2013 Bison Books shifted its focus to the trans-Mississippi West. The imprint has featured the work of notable authors such as André Breton, George Armstrong Custer, William F.
- Potomac Books: In April 2013, the press acquired Potomac Books, a publisher specializing in military and diplomatic topics.
- The Jewish Publication Society (JPS): 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. Founded in Philadelphia in 1888, it is known for its English translation of the Hebrew Bible, the NJPS Tanakh.
UNP publishes primarily non-fiction books and academic journals, in both print and electronic editions. The press has particularly strong publishing programs in Native American studies, the history and culture of the American West, sports, world and national affairs, and military history.
Notable Publications and Recognition
Since its inception, UNP has published more than 4,000 books and thirty journals, adding approximately 150 titles each year. Three of UNP's books have received the Bancroft Prize, the highest honor bestowed on history books in the U.
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UNP extends the University’s mission of teaching, research, and service. We publish and make accessible works of intellectual and cultural significance that advance the boundaries of human knowledge and experience.
The University of Nebraska: A Foundation for the Press
The University of Nebraska, the parent institution of the UNP, has a rich history that has shaped the press's mission and values. Founded in 1869, the University of Nebraska was given the awesome responsibility of educating a new state barely connected by roads and rail lines. Established as a comprehensive university, uniting the arts and sciences, commerce and agriculture, and open to all regardless of "age, sex, color, or nationality," it has as its motto Literis dedicata et omnibus artibus--dedicated to letters and all the arts.
Early in 1869, Nebraska's legislature convened for the first time in the new capital city of Lincoln. Eager to reap the benefits of the Morrill Act, legislators quickly approved a bill establishing the University of Nebraska. Visionary lawmakers rejected the creation of two universities and determined that the state university and the state agricultural university should "be united as one educational institution." Thus was born Nebraska's great land grant and comprehensive research university that serves Nebraskans and the world beyond the state.
The University at first was confined to four city blocks and didn't have a building until 1871. Cows grazed the campus. But soon the high aspirations of the state began to be realized. Nebraska boasted the first department of psychology west of the Mississippi River, and its faculty included national prominent scholars like botanist Charles Bessey and linguist A. H. Edgren (later a member of the Nobel Commission). Willa Cather, Roscoe Pound, Mari Sandoz, and Louise Pound ranked among its early graduates. And it developed a reputation for excellence in collegiate athletics.
Robert Manley's Centennial History of the University of Nebraska in 1969 encapsules the story of the University's evolvement, Its uniqueness because of it's setting on the frontier, and the relation of the University to the history of the state and its impact on that history.
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