West Virginia University Press

West Virginia University Press is a university press and publisher in the state of West Virginia. A part of West Virginia University, the Press publishes books and journals with a particular emphasis on Appalachian studies, history, the social sciences, and interdisciplinary books about energy, environment, and resources.^[1] The Press's Vandalia imprint publishes works of fiction and creative nonfiction. WVU Press also collaborates on digital publications, notably West Virginia History: An Open Access Reader.

West Virginia University Press is part of the Association of American University Presses.^[2][3]

History

West Virginia University Press was founded in the mid-1960s by Dean of Libraries Dr. Robert Munn, during which time it focused on publishing bibliographies and histories of the coal industry.

In 1999, the Press was relocated to within the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences under the direction of Dr. Patrick Conner. In 2008, Carrie Mullen took over leadership of the Press as director.^[4]

In 2014, Derek Krissoff, previously editor in chief at the University of Nebraska Press, began his tenure as director.^[5] In a forum on the future of the university press in the Chronicle of Higher Education, Krissoff said "The book is necessary and important — and, while it’s hardly a static artifact, it’s proved remarkably durable. Books are also expensive, especially in terms of the skilled labor necessary to acquire and market them. But they’re worth it."^[6]

Books

The Press publishes books in the following scholarly areas: African American literature, Appalachian studies, art, digital writing and literature, energy and environment, geography, history, medieval studies, music, natural history, sociology, sports, and West Virginia, as well as creative nonfiction and fiction.^[7][8][9] Notable WVU Press books include Lee Maynard's Crum trilogy,^[10] Davitt McAteer's Monongah: The Tragic Story of the Worst Industrial Accident in US History,^[11] the anthology Eyes Glowing at the Edge of the Woods,^[12] and Katharine Antolini's Memorializing Motherhood.^[13]

Series

The Press publishes series in the following areas: Central Appalachian Natural History, CompuLit, Energy and Society, Histories of Capitalism and the Environment,^[14] In Place,^[15] Radical Natures, Regenerations, Rural Studies, Sounding Appalachia, Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Vandalia Press, West Virginia and Appalachia, and West Virginia Classics.^[16]

Open Access Reader

In January 2016, WVU Press and WVU Libraries launched West Virginia History: An Open Access Reader as a free, online collection of previously published essays drawn from the journal West Virginia History and other WVU Press publications.^[17]

Journals

West Virginia Press publishes the following peer-reviewed journals in the humanities and education.^[18][19]

• Education and Treatment of Children
• Essays in Medieval Studies
• Tolkien Studies: An Annual Scholarly Review
• Victorian Poetry
• West Virginia History: A Journal of Regional Studies

References

External links

• Official website
• West Virginia History: An Open Access Reader