Founded in 1963, the University of Massachusetts Press publishes scholarship, literature, and books for general readers that reflect the quality and diversity of intellectual life on our campuses, in our region, and around the world. Serving interconnected communities of scholars, students, and citizens, the Press seeks to enhance and reflect the values and strengths of the University and the Commonwealth. UMass Press has sold more than 2,000,000 volumes since its inception, and currently has over 1,400 titles in print.
The Press imprint is overseen by a faculty committee, whose members represent a broad spectrum of University departments. New titles are approved by the committee after a rigorous process of peer review. The committee bases each of its decisions on the recommendations of the Press director and editors and on the written reports of at least two scholars in the field. Series editors also assist in this process (for a list of series, click here).
In recent years, the Press has focused primarily on books in the field of American studies broadly defined—books that explore the history, politics, literature, culture, and environment of the United States—as well as works with a transnational perspective. In addition to publishing works of scholarship, the Press produces books of more general interest for a wider readership and launched its regional trade imprint, Bright Leaf in 2017.
Sales representatives include the Columbia Consortium (for bookstores in the continental United States), Brunswick Books (Canada), the Eurospan Group (United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, Oceania, Australia, Africa, and the Middle East). Warehousing and order fulfillment functions are handled by the Chicago Distribution Center. The Press is a full member of the Association of University Presses.
The main offices of the Press are located on the campus of UMass Amherst in New Africa House, at 180 Infirmary Way, 4th Fl., Amherst, MA 01003. The Press also maintains an editorial office at UMass Boston.