Princeton University Press
Whitney Darrow established Princeton University Press in 1905. He served as the manager of the Alumni Weekly at that time. Charles Scribner II provided financial support for this new venture. The organization began as a small printing house called Princeton Alumni Press. It initially published only the Princeton Alumni Weekly newspaper. Darrow and Scribner purchased equipment from two existing local publishers. They assumed operations of both the Princeton Alumni Weekly press and the Princeton Press. This new entity printed university documents and The Daily Princetonian. Book publishing activities were added to these duties later. The operation started as a for-profit printer before changing status. In 1910, the press was reincorporated as a nonprofit organization.
The press moved into its purpose-built gothic-style headquarters in 1911. Ernest Flagg designed this distinctive building located on William Street. The structure drew inspiration from the Plantin-Moretus Museum in Antwerp, Belgium. The facility received the name Scribner Building in 1965. A European office opened in Woodstock, England during 1999. This location sits north of Oxford. An additional office opened in Beijing in early 2017. These international expansions marked significant growth beyond the original campus. The physical presence of the press grew alongside its publishing scope. The architectural design reflected the historical importance placed on print culture.
Multi-volume historical document projects define much of the press's editorial work. The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein represents one major undertaking. Sixty-nine volumes comprise The Papers of Woodrow Wilson project. This specific collection has been called one of the great editorial achievements in all history. The Writings of Henry D. Thoreau form another extensive series. Kierkegaard's Writings and The Papers of Thomas Jefferson also appear in these collections. The Bollingen Series began as a 1943 project of Paul Mellon's Old Dominion Foundation. The foundation gained independent status from 1945 onward. It published works in archaeology, poetry, and psychology. The university received the Bollingen Series in 1969. These projects demonstrate a commitment to preserving complex scholarly texts for future generations.
Six books from Princeton University Press have won Pulitzer Prizes over time. Russia Leaves the War by George F. Kennan received this honor in 1957. Banks and Politics in America from the Revolution to the Civil War by Bray Hammond won in 1958. Between War and Peace by Herbert Feis took the award in 1961. Washington: Village and Capital by Constance McLaughlin Green followed in 1963. The Greenback Era by Irwin Unger won in 1965. Machiavelli in Hell by Sebastian de Grazia completed the list in 1989. Three titles have also secured National Book Awards. Monsieur Teste translated by Jackson Mathews won in 1974. The Agony of Christianity and Essays on Faith translated by Anthony Kerrigan won in 1975. Books from the press have additionally received the Bancroft Prize and the Nautilus Book Award.
Princeton University Press joined The Association of American Publishers in the Hachette v. Internet Archive lawsuit. This legal action resulted in the removal of access to over 500,000 books from global readers. Staff members faced criticism in 2025 for appearing in Chinese state media. They participated in an officially-sanctioned tour of sites in Xinjiang during that year. These events highlighted tensions between academic publishing and political realities. The lawsuit demonstrated the press's alignment with major trade organizations. The tour raised questions about staff participation in government-sponsored activities abroad. Both incidents involved significant public scrutiny of the organization's actions.
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Common questions
Who established Princeton University Press and when?
Whitney Darrow established Princeton University Press in 1905. He served as the manager of the Alumni Weekly at that time.
Where is the European office of Princeton University Press located?
A European office opened in Woodstock, England during 1999. This location sits north of Oxford.
What major historical document projects does Princeton University Press publish?
Multi-volume historical document projects define much of the press's editorial work. The Collected Papers of Albert Einstein represents one major undertaking alongside Sixty-nine volumes comprising The Papers of Woodrow Wilson project.
Which books from Princeton University Press have won Pulitzer Prizes?
Six books from Princeton University Press have won Pulitzer Prizes over time. Russia Leaves the War by George F. Kennan received this honor in 1957 and Machiavelli in Hell by Sebastian de Grazia completed the list in 1989.
When did Princeton University Press join The Association of American Publishers in the Hachette v. Internet Archive lawsuit?
Princeton University Press joined The Association of American Publishers in the Hachette v. Internet Archive lawsuit. This legal action resulted in the removal of access to over 500,000 books from global readers.