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

1478

First book printed in Oxford

1884

First fascicle of the Oxford English
Dictionary

1926

Overseas Education Department founded, later forming our English Language Teaching division

2004

First Open Access journal article

Global outlook and output

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

1675

First printed the King James Authorised Version of the Bible

1915

Opening of Southern Africa office in Cape Town

1951

The first Oxford Atlas is printed

2022

More than 750,000 books donated worldwide

Leading the way forward

We鈥檙e at the forefront of research and education鈥檚 biggest changes and challenges 鈥� just as we鈥檝e always been.

1633

Delegates appointed by the University to oversee our printing

1906

Set up a catalogue for our first children’s books

2021

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

2050

Target year to become carbon
neutral from our own operations