University of Georgia Press
The University of Georgia Press opened its doors in 1938 within the Athens campus. It stands today as the oldest and largest publishing house in the entire state of Georgia. This institution began operations during a time when few university presses existed outside major coastal cities. By 1940, it had secured membership in the Association of University Presses. Only two other presses in Georgia share that distinction today. The press serves all thirty-one institutions of higher education across the state system. Its physical location remains on the North Campus where it has operated for decades.
Eighty new books appear annually from this division of the University of Georgia. More than fifteen hundred titles currently remain in print. The editorial team focuses heavily on American studies and Southern regional history. They produce significant work in African-American studies and civil rights history. Environmental literature also forms a core part of their catalog. Rick Bass and Barry Lopez have published works through this press. Erskine Caldwell and Harry Crews are among the many authors they have supported. Calvin Trillin and Roy Blount Jr. have contributed to their literary list. Rebecca Solnit and Catherine Clinton represent recent additions to their roster.
Charles East established the Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction in 1983. He served as editor-in-chief at the time of its creation. This program aims to recognize gifted young writers every year. The press publishes creative writing through multiple competitions including the Cave Canem Poetry Prize. Books from these programs have won major awards in recent years. The Association of Writers & Writing Programs supports one of their series. Crux: The Georgia Series in Literary Nonfiction continues to publish new voices. The National Poetry Series adds another layer to their literary offerings. These initiatives have earned national recognition for the press.
The New Georgia Encyclopedia launched as an online resource for state history. It emerged from a partnership between the UGA Press and the Georgia Humanities Council. GALILEO provided additional support for this digital project. The encyclopedia serves as a comprehensive reference for Georgia history. It remains accessible to researchers and general readers alike. This initiative demonstrates how the press adapts to modern information needs. The collaboration involves multiple state organizations working together. No other university press in the system offers such a large-scale digital archive.
Documents uncovered by Foetry.com revealed undisclosed judges in the 1999 poetry contest. Jorie Graham, a colleague of Peter M. Sacks at Harvard University, judged his entry. She later married him after the award was granted. Series editor Bin Ramke insisted that judge names remain secret throughout the process. The Open Records Act eventually forced disclosure of these relationships. Critical coverage followed the revelation across multiple news outlets. Ramke resigned from his position as series editor shortly after. The press now requires full disclosure of all poetry judges. They instruct judges to avoid conflicts of interest of any kind.
On the 27th of October 2005, the press rescinded Brad Vice's Flannery O'Connor Award. Copies of his collection The Bear Bryant Funeral Train were recalled immediately. Vice faced allegations of plagiarizing sections from Carl Carmer's book Stars Fell on Alabama. That work was published in 1934 and remains a classic text. Vice and others disputed the plagiarism charges publicly. The incident drew attention from national publications including the Los Angeles Times. It marked one of the most significant controversies in the press's history. The decision reflected strict standards for originality in their publishing program.
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Common questions
When did the University of Georgia Press open its doors?
The University of Georgia Press opened its doors in 1938 within the Athens campus. It stands today as the oldest and largest publishing house in the entire state of Georgia.
What subjects does the University of Georgia Press focus on?
The editorial team focuses heavily on American studies and Southern regional history. They produce significant work in African-American studies, civil rights history, and environmental literature.
Who established the Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction at the University of Georgia Press?
Charles East established the Flannery O'Connor Award for Short Fiction in 1983 while serving as editor-in-chief. This program aims to recognize gifted young writers every year.
Why did the University of Georgia Press rescind Brad Vice's award on the 27th of October 2005?
The press rescinded Brad Vice's Flannery O'Connor Award because he faced allegations of plagiarizing sections from Carl Carmer's book Stars Fell on Alabama. That work was published in 1934 and remains a classic text.
How many books appear annually from the University of Georgia Press division?
Eighty new books appear annually from this division of the University of Georgia Press. More than fifteen hundred titles currently remain in print.