University of Nevada Press Records

On March 5, 1960, the University of Nevada Board of Regents voted unanimously to use the Jesse M. Whited Estate as an endowment fund to establish the University of Nevada Press. Under the direction of an Advisory Editorial Board, the Press would be used to designate a regular series of publications sponsored by the University in conformity with Board of Regents policies, overseen by the University Editor, who would also serve as the Chairman of the Advisory Board, and printed by the State Printing Office. In general, the Press was tasked with considering for publication materials for books, monograms, quarterly reviews, etc. of a creative or scholarly nature, treating history, literary or scientific data about Nevada and the West. The Advisory Board initiated policy and procedure proposals in its advisory capacity to the University Editor and would review such proposals initiated by the Editor of others.

In 1961, the Press officially began operations with Robert Laxalt as Editor. The Press started small, first focusing on manuscripts of local interest. The first hard-cover books were published in 1964-1965, with 4-5 works published annually through the early 1970s. Although the budget was small, several small grants and the success of some of the early publications helped to underwrite the operation. Some of the early popular titles and series published by the Press include The Journals of Alfred Doten: 1849-1903, The Nevada Adventure: A History, the Basque Book Series, Lancehead Series, Nevada studies in History and Political Science, Biographical Series and Bristlecone Series (both issued in paperback), and Art Portfolios.

[Sources: Board of Regents Minutes, March 5, 1960 accessed November 26, 2019; Hulse, James W. The University of Nevada: A Centennial History, Reno, Nevada : University of Nevada Press, 1974.]