University of Nebraska Press
November 1941 marked the birth of the University of Nebraska Press under Chancellor Chauncey Samuel Boucher. He hired Emily Schossberger as the press's first editor to guide its initial direction. During her seventeen-year tenure, UNP published 97 books focused on regional titles and works by Louise Pound, Karl Shapiro, and George W. Norris. This early period established the press as the 32nd American university press and the seventh in the Midwest. The focus remained tight on local scholarship before expanding beyond these boundaries.
The year 1961 saw the launch of Bison Books, the press's first trade imprint designed for non-traditional retail spaces. These paperback books appeared at truck stops, drug stores, and gas stations across the region. Originally focusing on Western Americana, the imprint later shifted to cover the trans-Mississippi West in 2013. Notable authors featured within this series include André Breton, Che Guevara, and Mari Sandoz. A specific science fiction series called Bison Frontiers of Imagination brought works by Jules Verne and Edgar Rice Burroughs to new readers.
Dave Gilbert became director in 1975 and reoriented Bison Books toward a stronger western focus. He hired designer Richard Eckersley and his wife Dika to bring all book design operations in-house. Bill Regier succeeded Gilbert and expanded the press into foreign translations from France and Scandinavia. Three translation authors from this era later received Nobel Prizes. By 1991, UNP had 2,000 books in print with annual sales reaching $4.5 million. Dan Ross took over as director in 1995 and expanded Bison Books to focus heavily on sports history, particularly baseball.
In September 2011, the press entered a collaborative publishing arrangement with the Jewish Publication Society. This nonprofit publisher has been based in Philadelphia since its founding in 1888. The University of Nebraska Press purchased all outstanding inventory from the society to handle production and distribution. April 2013 marked another major acquisition when the press bought Potomac Books, a publisher specializing in military and diplomatic topics. These strategic purchases helped UNP surpass $7 million in sales by 2015 and rise to become the twelfth-largest university press in the country.
Three of the press's books have received the Bancroft Prize, the highest honor bestowed on history books in the United States. Since its inception, UNP has published more than 4,000 books and thirty journals. The organization adds approximately 150 titles each year to maintain this volume. Domestic distribution is provided by the University of North Carolina Press through Longleaf Services. Membership in the Association of University Presses confirms its standing among peer institutions across the nation.
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Common questions
When was the University of Nebraska Press founded and who hired its first editor?
The University of Nebraska Press was born in November 1941 under Chancellor Chauncey Samuel Boucher. He hired Emily Schossberger as the press's first editor to guide its initial direction.
What is the history of Bison Books and when did it change its focus to the trans-Mississippi West?
Bison Books launched in 1961 as the press's first trade imprint for non-traditional retail spaces. The imprint originally focused on Western Americana before shifting to cover the trans-Mississippi West in 2013.
Who directed the University of Nebraska Press from 1975 until 1995 and what changes did they make?
Dave Gilbert became director in 1975 and reoriented Bison Books toward a stronger western focus. Bill Regier succeeded Gilbert and expanded the press into foreign translations from France and Scandinavia.
Which major acquisitions helped the University of Nebraska Press surpass $7 million in sales by 2015?
In September 2011, the press entered a collaborative publishing arrangement with the Jewish Publication Society. April 2013 marked another major acquisition when the press bought Potomac Books, a publisher specializing in military and diplomatic topics.
How many books has the University of Nebraska Press published since its inception and how many titles does it add each year?
Since its inception, UNP has published more than 4,000 books and thirty journals. The organization adds approximately 150 titles each year to maintain this volume.