The purpose of the Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press is to publish the research and other scholarly contributions of Smithsonian authors. Submissions should consist of scholarly works that include monographs, collection catalogues, exhibition catalogues, and symposia volumes.

Eligibility

Those eligible to publish through SISP are: current SI employees and emeriti, and current SI Research Associates in good standing. Submissions from SI fellows (ORTS-sponsored) in good standing will be considered with the stipulation that any proposed publication must be on the topic of the individual’s research fellowship. Eligible fellows may submit manuscripts up to five years after expiration of active fellowship. Eligible Research Associates and fellows do not need SI-employed coauthors. Research collaborators may qualify if a co-researcher is an eligible SI scholar and co-author. Eligibility standards are provisional and may be reevaluated after two years (January 2009).

Criteria for Submission

• Submission must be authored by at least one SI employee, emeritus, or fellow. (See eligibility requirements for details.)
  
• Content must be scholarly and based on sound research.
• Submission should be related to SI areas of research and/or collections.
• Material should be original.
  
• If proceedings from a symposium or conference, that conference must be sponsored by the Smithsonian and include Smithsonian participants.
• All submissions must be complete before they will be reviewed by a Content Review Board.

What You Need to Prepare Your Manuscript

Manuscript Preparation and Style Guide for Authors for the Contributions Series

Digital Art Preparation Guidelines

SISP New Submission Form

Required Materials

For Manuscript Submission

• Copies of any approval documentation from unit, if applicable. Ensure that all unit-specific requirements for publishing the work through SISP are fulfilled by the author(s) at the unit level prior to submission. SISP does not manage any unit-based approval process.
• CD(s) containing (1) all manuscript text (e.g., front matter, main text, tables, figure captions), with all required format and style elements applied and (2) all art files in the proper file format
  Note: A printout of the text is not required.
• PDF or hard copy printout of each table and figure/map/illustration.
• All permissions documentation, if applicable
• Completed New Submission Form

For Proposal Submission

• Copies of all approval documentation from unit, if applicable
• CD containing (1) a sample section or chapter, up to 50 pages, and (2) an outline or table of contents, including subheadings and an estimated page count for each section/chapter (You may attach a formal book proposal if already prepared.)
• Any other relevant materials that will aid the Content Review Board’s evaluation of the proposal
• Completed New Submission Form

Mail Complete Submission Packages to:

Program Assistant: New Submissions
901 D St. SW, Suite 704-A
MRC 957 / P.O. Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013-7012

SISP will review all submissions for completeness and compliance to SISP's Manuscript Preparation guidelines. Complete packages will be forwarded to the appropriate Content Review Board. If a package is not complete, it will be returned to the author.

Active Smithsonian Contributions Series

• Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology - Studies on human biological and cultural diversity and history
• Smithsonian Contributions to Botany - Studies on the biology, diversity, and evolution of plants
• Smithsonian Contributions to History and Technology - Studies in the social sciences and humanities, and technical studies of Smithsonian and related objects
• Smithsonian Contributions to the Marine Sciences - Studies on all aspects of the world’s oceans, their geological history, and biological diversity as well as human interactions with the oceans
• Smithsonian Contributions to Museum Conservation - Studies on the science of museum object conservation, preservation, and technical studies
• Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology - Studies on the fossil record documenting the diversification of life through time and the geological context of evolution
• Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology - Studies on the biology, diversity, and evolution of animals

Scholarly Books: Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge

Proposed works less suited for the narrow focus and formal publishing guidelines of the Contributions Series and that are deemed to be marketable to a wider scholarly or academic audience will be considered for publication as scholarly books. The submission process for books is similar to that of the Contributions Series but follows a different production track, with marketing and sales distribution provided through Rowman & Littlefield, SISP's publishing partner. Book proposals accepted for funding by SISP will be categorized as "Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge" and may be designated as such on title pages.

For further information about submitting a manuscript or book proposal, or for questions about the author guidelines, email SISP at schol.press@si.edu.