[4] SUP was formed in August 1943 when president William P. Tolley promised Thomas J. Watson that the university will organize a press to print IBM's Precision Measurements in the Metal Workings Industry.

[5] Matthew Lyle Spencer of the School of Journalism became the first chair of the board of directors and Lawrence Siegfried was the first editor.

[1] The areas of focus for the Press include Middle East studies,[6] Native American studies, peace and conflict resolution, Irish studies and Jewish studies,[7] New York State, television and popular culture, sports and entertainment.

[9] In March 2017, SU Press received Humanities Open Book Program award from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

[11][12] Since October 2020, SU press has produced audiobooks in collaboration with Sound Beat, which is produced at Belfer Audio Laboratory and Archive at Syracuse University Libraries.