On September 29, 1960, an announcement was sent out to the Purdue University community by then President Frederick Hovde establishing "Purdue University Studies" with a $12,000 grant from the Purdue Research Foundation. This was the result of a committee appointed by President Hovde after the English Department had lamented the lack of publishing venues in the humanities. The first Editorial Board was headed by Robert B. William Whalen, Director of the Office of Publications, became the part-time Director of Purdue University Studies. Diane Dubriel was the first full-time employee. Verna Emery was Managing Editor from 1977 to 1990, succeeded by Margaret Hunt who served until 2008. Other long-serving employees who helped build the Press's reputation were Carolyn McGrew (1990-2002), Donna VanLeer (1989-2008), and Beverly Carrell (1988-1996),
On September 12, 1974, Purdue University Studies became Purdue University Press and moved to offices in South Campus Courts. In June 1992, William Whalen retired and David Sanders was appointed the first full-time Director, serving until 1996. At the same time, on July 1, 1992, responsibility for the Press was transferred to the Dean of Libraries. David Sanders was succeeded by Tom Bacher (1997-2008). Under Sanders and Bacher, the range of books that the Press published grew to better reflect the work from other Colleges at Purdue University, beyond Liberal Arts, especially in the areas of agriculture, health, and engineering. The Press developed distinguished lists in a range of subject areas from poetry to the study of the human-animal bond. The number of books produced each year increased from 6 in 1990 to 35 in 2002. In 1993 Purdue University Press was admitted to membership of the Association of American University Presses. Today the Press publishes around 25 books a year, and 15 journals, a number of them in electronic-only, Open Access, format in collaboration with Purdue University Libraries. In 2009, under Interim Director Bryan Shaffer, the Press moved from South Campus Court, on the edge of Purdue’s West Lafayette facility, to Stewart Center, the location of the Libraries Administration. This move reflects a recognition of the converging paths of librarians and publishers in the digital age, and the exciting potential of an integrated approach to scholarly communication. In its location at the center of campus, the Press can also better fulfil the part of its mission that focuses on efficiently supporting the dissemination of scholarly research conducted at Purdue, and enhancing the university's global reputation.
