University of Nebraska Press

University of Nebraska Press
Company type	Academic publisher
Industry	Publishing
Founded	1941
Founder	Chauncey Samuel Boucher
Headquarters	Lincoln, United States
Area served	United States, International
Products	Books, academic journals
Parent	University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Website	nebraskapress.unl.edu

The University of Nebraska Press (UNP) operates as an academic publisher dedicated to producing both scholarly and general-interest books. Established in 1941 as part of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, UNP specializes in non-fiction works and academic journals available in both print and digital editions. Its principal areas of publication encompass Native American studies, the American frontier, sports, global and domestic affairs, military history, along with reissues of classic genres such as science fiction and fantasy.

Having released more than 4,000 titles and introducing approximately 150 new publications each year, UNP holds the position of the twelfth-largest university press within the United States. Among its accolades, three titles have earned the distinguished Bancroft Prize. The press’s domestic distribution is handled through Longleaf Services, affiliated with the University of North Carolina Press. UNP also maintains membership in the Association of University Presses.

History

The inception of UNP dates back to November 1941 when Chancellor Chauncey Samuel Boucher founded it and appointed Emily Schossberger as its inaugural editor. The press initially concentrated on regional literature, featuring authors like Louise Pound and George W. Norris, producing a total of 97 books during Schossberger’s 17-year tenure. Bruce Nicoll followed as director, expanding UNP’s reach to include a wider audience beyond strictly academic circles. In 1961, the press introduced its first imprint, Bison Books, which published paperbacks distributed through unconventional venues such as truck stops and gas stations. By 1966, its distribution network extended internationally.

In 1975, under director Dave Gilbert, Bison Books was realigned to emphasize Western-themed publications, with book design brought in-house by Richard Eckersley. Bill Regier, who succeeded Gilbert, broadened the catalog to feature international literature and translations, with several authors later receiving Nobel Prizes. By 1991, UNP’s catalog had grown to 2,000 titles with an annual addition of around 100 new books and sales reaching $4.5 million. Dan Ross assumed leadership in 1995, enhancing Bison’s offerings in sports literature—particularly baseball—and increasing yearly revenue beyond $6 million.

During the early 2000s under Gary Dunham’s direction, UNP embraced print-on-demand technology and coordinated simultaneous ebook launches alongside print editions. Editor-in-chief Donna Shear sharpened Bison Books’ focus exclusively on Western subjects while tripling the number of journals published to thirty titles. In 2011, UNP partnered with the Jewish Publication Society, expanding its Jewish studies catalog. The acquisition of Potomac Books in 2013 further diversified its offerings by adding military and diplomatic works. By 2015, UNP exceeded $7 million in revenue and reinforced its standing among leading U.S. university presses.

Nebraska

The Nebraska imprint publishes both academic and general-interest books concentrating on Native and Indigenous studies, historical subjects, sports history, American studies, cultural critique, environmental issues, anthropology, and creative literature. This imprint also produces scholarly editions of Willa Cather’s renowned works such as My Ántonia and O Pioneers!.

Bison Books

Established in 1961 as UNP’s first trade imprint, Bison Books began by offering low-cost paperbacks centered on Western Americana. Since 2013, it has narrowed its focus to the trans-Mississippi West region. The imprint includes works by prominent figures such as André Breton, George Armstrong Custer, William F. Cody, Michel Foucault, Che Guevara, Wallace Stegner, and Leo Tolstoy.

Potomac Books

Founded in 1983 under the name Brassey's as the American branch of a British military publishing firm, Potomac Books broadened its scope to include titles on global and domestic politics, presidential biographies, diplomacy, and personal memoirs. After being acquired by Books International in 1999 and rebranded in 2004, the imprint was later purchased by UNP in 2013 to strengthen its nonfiction catalog.

Jewish Publication Society

Established in Philadelphia in 1888, the Jewish Publication Society (JPS) holds the distinction of being the oldest nonprofit publisher of Jewish literature in English, widely recognized for its NJPS Tanakh translation. UNP took over responsibility for JPS’s existing book inventory along with production, distribution, and marketing, while JPS remains dedicated to acquiring manuscripts and developing projects from its Philadelphia base.

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