History & Accolades

Moving knowledge and learning forward, for over 500 years.

No matter where people start, our resources help people of all ages and all backgrounds take their knowledge further.

Our origins can be traced back to the earliest days of printing. But our work has never been more important than it is today.

We’ve championed fresh thinking and access to knowledge for centuries. We’re still evolving today, so we can reach more people than ever before

First book printed in Oxford

First edition of the Oxford English
Dictionary

English language teaching begins overseas

First Open Access journal article

Knowledge and learning should empower everyone. Our global reach makes this possible.

Granted the right to print the King James Authorised Version of the Bible

First OUP office in Southern Africa

The first Oxford Atlas is printed

More than 750,000 books donated worldwide

We’re at the forefront of research and education’s biggest changes and challenges – just as we’ve always been.

Delegates appointed by the University to oversee our printing

Started publishing our first children’s books

Published global research on the impact of the digital divide and publicly committed to working to close it

Target year to become carbon
neutral from our own operations