Columbia University Press was founded in May 1893.[4] In 1933, the first four volumes of the History of the State of New York were published.[5] In the early 1940s, the Press' revenues rose, partially thanks to the Encyclopedia and the government's purchase of 12,500 copies for use by the military.[6]
Columbia University Press is notable for publishing reference works, such as The Columbia Encyclopedia (1935–present), The Columbia Granger's Index to Poetry (online as The Columbia World of Poetry Online) and The Columbia Gazetteer of the World (also online) and for publishing music.[7]
First among American university presses to publish in electronic formats,[8] in 1998 the Press founded an online-only site, Columbia International Affairs Online (CIAO),[9] and Columbia Earthscape (in 2009).[10] Their books have been positively reviewed by several notable outlets, including Cleveland Review of Books.[11][12]