THE HISTORY OF THE PRESS

The Ninety-Six Press was established in 1991 at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina.

The name of the press is derived from the old name for the area around Greenville--the "Ninety-Six District." The old name survives in the name of the town Ninety-Six.

The origin of the name is obscure, but South Carolina historian David P. George, Jr., hypothesizes that it derives from the old phrase "nine and six." In pre-Revolutionary times, a section of the traders' path running from Charleston to the Cherokee nation was known by this name because of a unique grouping of nine and then six streams crossing the path in the vicinity of present-day Ninety-Six. See George's article "Ninety Six Decoded: Origins of a Community's Name," South Carolina Historical Magazine 92 (1991): 69-84.

The publishers and founding editors of Ninety-Six Press are Gilbert Allen and William E. Rogers. Since its founding, Ninety-Six Press has published one or two books of poetry each year.

The press has received support from the Metropolitan Arts Council of Greenville, from the Emrys Foundation, and from Furman University.

THE ACTIVITIES OF THE PRESS

The name of the press suggests interest in the writers, readers, and culture of the region. Ninety-Six Press publishes only poetry--usually, books by single authors from South Carolina. In 1994, and 2005, however, the press brought out anthologies of South Carolina poetry.

The press operates on the premise that a number of fine poets live and work in the state, and that they need more opportunities to make their writing available to the general public in attractively printed books.

Currently, Ninety-Six Press accepts manuscripts by invitation only. The normal first run is 500 paperback copies, and authors are compensated in copies.