Iowa State University Press began operations in 1924 for the primary purpose of publishing student and departmental periodicals for Iowa State College. In 1934, the Press expanded into book publishing and eventually became a recognized publisher of agriculture, journalism, veterinary medicine, and aviation books. In 2000, Iowa State University Press merged with Blackwell Science. This collection contains administrative files, financial reports, meeting minutes, news clippings, photographs, and videotapes that primarily document the book publishing operations of the Iowa State University Press. The bulk of the records come from the two decades prior to the merger with Blackwell Science.

The Iowa State University Press was initially incorporated as Collegiate Press, Inc., on August 14, 1924. Earlier that year, the Finance Committee of the State Board of Education approved the idea of a cooperatively owned press. Ownership of the press was spread amongst the student publication boards at the time. These boards were responsible for the publication of a number of student magazines such as the Iowa Homemaker, the Iowa Agriculturist, the Iowa State Student, and the Iowa Engineer.

In 1934, Collegiate Press began publishing books as a way to increase production levels in order to support fulltime staff. An amendment to the articles of incorporation was approved in 1946 changing the name to Iowa State College Press and by 1951 book publishing had become a larger portion of the business than student and departmental publications. The Press changed its name to the Iowa State University Press in 1959. Over the next several decades, the Press gained an international reputation for publishing books on topics related to agriculture, journalism, veterinary medicine, and aviation.

By the late 1930s, the Press had outgrown the space that Iowa State had allotted to it. The Press Building was constructed by Collegiate Press on the grounds of Iowa State in 1940 followed by several additions as business increased. The building, renamed Hamilton Hall in 1984, was sold to the University in 1985 to be converted from office space for student publications into classroom space for journalism students. By this time, the publishing division offices of the Press had already moved to a new building south of campus.

Concerns over future funding needs of the Iowa State University Press along with a lack of support from Iowa State University administration resulted in the Press merging with Blackwell Science in 2000.

This collection (1925-2003, undated) contains administrative files, financial reports, meeting minutes, news clippings, photographs, and videotapes that document the operations of the Iowa State University Press. The bulk of the records are from the last two decades before the merger with Blackwell Science. Records related to the sale of the Press are photocopies of the original documents held in the Office of the University Counsel.

Related collections in the Special Collections and University Archives include:

• Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication Records, RS 13/13