Columbia University Press records, 1893-2000s, bulk 1923-2000s

Summary Information

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into 5 series, with one addition.

• Series I: Cataloged Correspondence, 1893-1959
• Series II: Editorial Files, 1920s-1950s
• Subseries II.1 Editorial Files, 1920s-1959
• Subseries II.2. 2011 Addition, 1960-2000s
• Subseries II.3: 2017 Addition, 2000s
• Series III: Office Files, 1920s-2011
• 2019 Addition:
• Series IV: Printed Materials, 1893-1972
• Series V. Board of Trustees Meetings, 1893-2007
• Series VI: Central Files
• 2019 Addition, A-Z
• 2021 Addition, A-Z
• 2022 Addition, A-B, 1996-2005
• Series VII: Books

Description

Scope and Content

This collection contains the correspondence, editorial files and office files of the Columbia University Press, primarily from its reorganization in 1923 by Frederick Coykendall to the present.

• Series I: Cataloged Correspondence, 1893-1959

  This series contains selections from the Press's correspondence files. Files are organized alphabetically by correspondent's last name. Additional materials, including from some of the same Press authors, can be found in Series II.

• Series II: Editorial Files, 1920s-1950s

  This series contains the editorial files, which include correspondence kept by the editor related to a specific work. Files are organzined by the author's last name and the title of the work. Files include rejected, transferred and published works as well as files for general correspondence.

• Series III: Office Files, 1920s-2011

  This series contains the office or subject files kept by the CUP staff.

• Series IV: Printed Materials, 1893-1972

  This series contains the CUP catalogues, announcements and publicity materials.

• Series V. Board of Trustees Meetings, 1893-2007

  This series contains the records related to the Board of Trustees. The materials from 1991 to 2007 were received as part of the 2017 addition.

• Series VI: Central Files

  The material in this series consists mostly of book contracts and agreements, as well author information dating primarily from the 1990s-2010s. Two accruals of these Central File records were received in 2019 and 2021, respectively. The files are arranged alphabetically within each addition's sub-series.

• Series VII: Books

  Books published by CU Press

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Conditions Governing Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

Boxes 1-558 of this collection are located off-site. You will need to request these boxes material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

Boxes CC1-CC11 are located on site.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Readers must use microfilm of materials specified above.

None of the material may be quoted or published without permission of the editor in chief of the Press and of the Librarian for Rare Books and Manuscripts.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Columbia University Press Records (Box #, Folder #); Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Libraries.

Accruals

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Alternate Form Available

Pearl S. Buck letter is on: microfilm.

Royal Cortissoz lettrers are on: microfilm.

Ownership and Custodial History

Gift of the Press, 1919 & 1978.

Acquisition

1919 M-19 Columbia University Press Gift

Additions: 2010-2011-M164, June 2011 and 2016-2017-M128, March 2017

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 05/08/89.

Revision Description

2010-01-25 Legacy finding aid created from Pro Cite.

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

2022-07-18 Sub-Series VI: "Addition 2022: A-B" added and extent updated.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Genre/Form

Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical / Historical

The Columbia University Press, one of the oldest and largest of American university presses, was founded in 1893. The Press has published dissertations and other works by academic authors from Columbia University and elsewhere, series of books and other publications for departments of the University, periodicals, and other works.