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.

A history full of firsts

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

1478

First book printed in Oxford

1884

First edition of the Oxford English
Dictionary

1926

English language teaching begins overseas

2004

First Open Access journal article

Global outlook and output

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

1675

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

1914

First OUP office in Southern Africa

1951

The first Oxford Atlas is printed

2022

More than 750,000 books donated worldwide

Leading the way forward

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

1633

Delegates appointed by the University to oversee our printing

1906

Started publishing our first children’s books

2021

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

2025

Target year to become carbon
neutral from our own operations