Peter Lang (publisher)
Frankfurt am Main in 1970 marked the birth of a new academic publisher. Swiss editor Peter Lang established the company within this German city. The venture began as a single office operation focused on humanities and social sciences. No other branches existed at that moment. The name carried the founder's own identity into the market. This decision placed a personal stamp on an emerging field of scholarly publishing.
The headquarters eventually moved to Lausanne, Switzerland from its original Frankfurt location. Five international offices now operate across Berlin, Brussels, Chennai, New York, and Oxford. This network allows the publisher to reach scholars in Europe, Asia, and North America simultaneously. Growth transformed a local startup into a multinational entity with physical presence in multiple continents. Each office serves as a regional hub for distribution and editorial oversight.
Peter Lang Publishing USA opened its doors in 1982 to serve the American market. The subsidiary focuses heavily on textbooks designed for classroom use in education and media studies. Black studies became another core area of specialization alongside monographs in the humanities. This expansion allowed the parent company to tap directly into US university curricula. The move created a dedicated channel for educational materials separate from general academic works.
Over 1,100 academic titles appear annually in both print and digital formats today. A massive backlist contains more than 40,000 books accumulated since the early 1970s. These figures represent decades of continuous output without significant interruption. The sheer volume ensures that older research remains accessible to modern students and researchers. Physical copies coexist with electronic versions to meet diverse library needs.
The complete online journal collection resides on the Ingentaconnect platform for global access. Digital textbooks distribute worldwide through the Kortext system to reach international readers. This infrastructure supports scholars who require immediate remote access to primary sources. Integration with these platforms replaced older methods of physical distribution for certain categories. Technology now bridges gaps between publishers and distant universities efficiently.
Twelve specific subject areas define the scope of the publisher's catalog. History stands as one of the primary fields covered by their extensive list. Humanities and social sciences form the backbone of all editorial decisions made at headquarters. Each area receives dedicated attention from editors familiar with its unique requirements. The focus remains narrow enough to ensure quality while broad enough to cover major disciplines.
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Common questions
When and where was Peter Lang founded?
Frankfurt am Main in 1970 marked the birth of a new academic publisher. Swiss editor Peter Lang established the company within this German city.
Where is the headquarters of Peter Lang located now?
The headquarters eventually moved to Lausanne, Switzerland from its original Frankfurt location. Five international offices now operate across Berlin, Brussels, Chennai, New York, and Oxford.
What year did Peter Lang Publishing USA open?
Peter Lang Publishing USA opened its doors in 1982 to serve the American market. The subsidiary focuses heavily on textbooks designed for classroom use in education and media studies.
How many books are in the Peter Lang backlist?
A massive backlist contains more than 40,000 books accumulated since the early 1970s. These figures represent decades of continuous output without significant interruption.
Which platform hosts the online journal collection for Peter Lang?
The complete online journal collection resides on the Ingentaconnect platform for global access. Digital textbooks distribute worldwide through the Kortext system to reach international readers.