BJU Press - History

History

Although Bob Jones University published its first trade book, A History of Fundamentalism in America by George W. Dollar in 1973, BJU Press originated in the need for textbooks in the burgeoning Christian school movement. Walter Fremont, Dean of the School of Education, was an "enthusiastic supporter," and much of the early academic direction of the Press was provided by the University's provost, Philip D. Smith.The Press also published the University's magazine, Faith for the Family from 1973 until publication was discontinued in 1986.

The first textbook published by BJU Press was George Mulfinger and Emmet Williams, Physical Science for Christian Schools in 1974. Initially the Press had planned to publish only a few texts in areas where philosophical disagreement with secular texts was substantial, but shortly the Press developed a full range of K-12 texts and materials. An early decision was that the BJU Press would not simply repackage secular texts, as its competitors had done, but would create new books from a Christian viewpoint.

As the home school movement began to grow in the 1980s, the Press decided to accommodate to the difficulties of selling small quantities of its publications to home school families. This marketing strategy proved so successful that by 1988, the BJU Press was the largest textbook supplier to home school families in the nation. Together with A Beka Book, BJU "dominates the Christian school and home market." It also provides testing, record-keeping and consulting services.