Northeastern University Press proposals

Content Description

The collection consists of book proposals submitted to the Northeastern University Press. The collection is unprocessed. The Northeastern University Press was founded by William Frohlich in 1977. Frohlich had been hired to reorganize the department responsible for printing the University’s promotional and informational materials. Frohlich worked with Northeastern University President Kenneth Ryder to create a small academic press that would operate on a small budget and publish scholarly books. President Ryder recognized that a university press would help strengthen the academic reputation of Northeastern and encourage scholarship among the faculty. Initially called the Northeastern University Publishing Group, the program evolved into the Northeastern University Press. The Press chose to focus on subject areas that corresponded to the strengths of the university’s academic departments, were perceived as unmet market needs (including women’s studies, American history, music, and criminology), and that emphasized local and regional topics. An editorial board made up of University faculty approved new projects. The NU Press also distributed material for American museums and historical institutions, such as the Massachusetts Historical Society and the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. In addition to new material, the Press published new editions or new compilations of work by historical figures such as Louisa May Alcott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Samuel Eliot Morison. By 2000, sales had grown from $10,000 to about $1.5 million, and the Press published 30-40 titles each year. In 2004, due to financial difficulties, the Northeastern University Press became a member of the University Press of New England. 93/11

Restrictions Apply

No

Access Restrictions

Records are closed for 25 years from their date of creation, unless researchers have written permission from the creating office.

Use Restrictions

Requests for permission to publish material from this collection should be discussed with the University Archivist.