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The Press of the World

An academic exploration of the world's largest university press, from its 15th-century origins to its global digital future.

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Genesis of a Publishing Titan

A Department of the University

Oxford University Press (OUP) is the official publishing house of the University of Oxford and stands as the largest university press in the world. It is not an external entity but an integral department of the university, governed by a committee of 15 academics known as the Delegates of the Press. These delegates are appointed by the university's Vice-Chancellor, and their work is led by a chief executive, the Secretary to the Delegates. This governance structure has remained remarkably consistent since the 17th century, ensuring a deep and enduring connection between the press and the academic mission of its parent institution.

Global Reach & Scholarly Mission

As the second-oldest university press, following Cambridge University Press, OUP has a legacy of scholarly publication stretching back centuries. While its first book was printed in 1478, it was officially granted the legal right to print by decree in 1586. For over 400 years, its primary focus has been on pedagogical and scholarly texts. Today, its vast catalogue includes academic journals, dictionaries, English language teaching resources, Bibles, atlases, and seminal works in music, classics, literature, and history. With a global presence of around 6,000 employees and offices worldwide, many in former territories of the British Empire, OUP disseminates knowledge on an international scale.

Notable Imprints

Within the broader OUP organization, several imprints signify specific areas of publishing. The most distinguished of these is the Clarendon Press. Originally a name used to distinguish books printed in Oxford from those published by OUP's London office, it is now reserved as an imprint for publications of exceptional academic importance. This designation marks a work as a significant contribution to its field. Other acquired imprints, such as Blackstone Press, have also been integrated into OUP's extensive publishing portfolio.

A History Forged in Print

Early Charters & Royal Privilege

The University of Oxford's printing activities began around 1480, but its status was formalized in the 1630s under the leadership of Archbishop William Laud. He secured a "Great Charter" from King Charles I in 1636, granting the university the right to print "all manner of books." Crucially, Laud also obtained the royal privilege to print the King James Version of the Bible. This right proved to be immensely profitable, providing a stable financial foundation for the press for the next 250 years and enabling it to compete with London's powerful Stationers' Company and the King's Printer.

The Fell & Blackstone Eras

Following the English Civil War, Vice-Chancellor John Fell was instrumental in establishing the university's first central print shop in 1668. He envisioned an ambitious publishing program, including works in Greek, Coptic, Arabic, and Syriac, alongside classics of philosophy, mathematics, and science. The 18th century saw a period of stagnation, which was decisively ended by the reforms of William Blackstone. Appalled by the press's inefficiency, Blackstone instituted sweeping changes around 1760, establishing clear governance, proper accounting, and operational efficiency, laying the groundwork for future growth.

19th Century Transformation

The 19th century marked a period of profound transformation. In 1830, the press moved to its current main offices on Walton Street. Under the new Secretary, Bartholomew Price, appointed in 1868, OUP evolved into a modern publishing house. Price professionalized the business, ending partnerships and bringing publishing functions in-house. This era saw the launch of major scholarly series like the Sacred Books of the East and, most significantly, the commissioning of the monumental project that would become the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) in 1879. The establishment of a New York office in 1896, spearheaded by publisher Henry Frowde, marked the beginning of its global expansion.

Global Expansion & Modernization

The 20th century saw OUP solidify its international presence. Under publisher Humphrey Milford, the press established branches and depots across the British Empire, including India, Canada, Australia, and Shanghai. A dedicated Music Department was founded in 1923, championing English composers. Despite the challenges of the Great Depression and World War II, the press continued to expand, particularly in its educational publishing in regions like Southern Africa and India. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, OUP embraced the digital age, yet also marked the end of an era by closing its own printing division, Oxuniprint, in 2021, concluding centuries of in-house printing history.

Landmark Publications & Series

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED)

Perhaps OUP's most famous and ambitious undertaking is the Oxford English Dictionary. Contracted in 1879, the project was a monumental academic and patriotic effort to create a comprehensive record of the English language. The initial estimates of a ten-year timeline and a ยฃ9,000 budget proved wildly optimistic. The first edition was not completed until 1928, nearly fifty years later, at a cost of approximately ยฃ375,000. The OED remains a cornerstone of OUP's identity, representing its commitment to definitive, long-term scholarship.

Scholarly Journals & Open Access

OUP is a major publisher of academic journals, managing over 500 titles in both the sciences and humanities on behalf of learned societies worldwide. It has been a pioneer in new publishing models, noted as one of the first university presses to publish a fully open access journal (Nucleic Acids Research). It also introduced hybrid open access models, allowing authors to pay a fee to make their articles freely available to all readers. As a member of the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association, OUP continues to engage with evolving standards in academic communication.

Influential Series & Resources

Beyond the OED, OUP is known for a wide array of influential publications. Its dictionaries, under the Oxford Languages brand, are global standards. The Very Short Introductions series offers concise, expert-written primers on a vast range of subjects, making complex topics accessible to a broad audience. In education, its English as a second or foreign language (ESL/EFL) resources are used by learners globally. The press also continues its long tradition of publishing authoritative books on classics, history, music, and religion, including its historic Bible printing privilege.

Fostering Future Scholars

The Clarendon Scholarships

Reflecting its deep integration with the University of Oxford, the Oxford University Press has been a key financial supporter of the Clarendon Fund since its inception in 2001. The Clarendon Scholarship is a prestigious graduate scholarship scheme at the university, designed to support academically excellent students from around the world. This partnership underscores OUP's commitment not just to publishing scholarship, but to nurturing the next generation of scholars who will create it.

Controversies & Criticisms

Publishing & Censorship Debates

OUP has faced criticism over decisions related to freedom of expression. In 1989, it broke a worldwide embargo on trade with Iran by attending the Tehran Book Fair, a move made shortly after the fatwa was issued against author Salman Rushdie. Decades later, in 1998, the press caused an uproar by closing its modern poetry list on commercial grounds, a decision condemned by figures like Arts Minister Alan Howarth, who argued that OUP's charitable status and academic mission should outweigh purely commercial considerations.

Tax-Exemption Status

OUP's status as a tax-exempt charity has been a recurring point of contention. After several rejections, OUP was granted tax exemption in the UK in 1978. Commercial rivals have argued this gives OUP an unfair competitive advantage, allowing it to use funds that would have been paid in tax to acquire other publishers. The issue was highlighted again in 2001 when OUP lost its tax-exempt status in India, with the Indian Supreme Court ruling it acted there as a commercial publisher, not a university entity. This has led to ongoing debate in the UK about whether its commercial activities align with its charitable purpose.

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References

References

  1.  I.G. Phillip, William Blackstone and the Reform of the Oxford University Press (Oxford, 1957) pp. 45รขย€ย“72
  2.  Open Access Scholarly Publishing Association Members
  3.  quoted in "Such principled publishers", an article in The Bookseller, 5 May 1989
  4.  'Books for the Mullahs', The New York Times, 27th April 1989
  5.  Norman Lebrecht and Ian Birrell, 'Anger over Iran book fair visits', The Sunday Times, 7th May 1989
  6.  Laurence Marks, 'A builder's dialogue that silenced OUP', The Observer, 23 December 1990
  7.  Court of Appeal judgement and order, 18 December 1990, CHF0480/90
  8.  Phil Baty, 'Whistleblowers', The Times Higher Education Supplement, 22 February 2002 '
  9.  Phil Baty, 'Whistleblowers', THES article on the akmedea website '
  10.  Books and Bookmen column, Private Eye, 15 January 1993
  11.  Dalya Alberge, 'Anger over Dead Poets Society', The Times, 21st November 1998
  12.  Dan Glaister, 'Minister steps into Oxford poetry list row', The Guardian, 4 February 1999
  13.  "Mammon's Imprint", The Times Higher Education Supplement, 12 February 1999.
  14.  Andrew Malcom, 'Don't go to Jericho: Why the present constitution of the OUP cannot work', Times Literary Supplement, 2 April 1999
  15.  M.H. Black, Cambridge University Press 1584-1984, CUP, 1984, p267
  16.  G Bridden, letter to Geoffrey Cass, 9 November 1976
  17.  M.H. Black, Cambridge University Press 1584-1984, CUP, 1984, p282
  18.  Reg Little, 'OUP denies it has breached Charity rules', The Oxford Times, 5 November 1999
  19.  Maggie Hartford 'A Message from India', The Oxford Times, 30 March 2001
  20.  The Bookseller Editorial team, 'OUP India forced to pay back tax', The Bookseller, 1 June 2001
  21.  Joel Rickett, 'latest news from the world of publishing', The Guardian, 30 August 2003
  22.  Jessica Shepherd, 'Freedom of the presses', the Guardian, 17 April 2007
  23.  Tom Tivnan, 'Charities review could hit publishers', The Bookseller, 2007
  24.  'CUP'S and OUP'S claims for tax-exemption, 1940-1950", Index of scans on the Akmedea website
  25.  'CUP's and OUP's tax-exemption applications, 1975-78', Index of scans on the Akmedea website
  26.  Philip Jones,'Rivals attack OUP and CUP', The Bookseller, 24 April 2008
  27.  Chris Koenig, 'OUP status attacked', Oxford Mail, 16 May 2008
A full list of references for this article are available at the Oxford University Press Wikipedia page

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