Oxford American, the

Conway, Arkansas (UCA campus) · Founded Oxford, Mississippi, 1992 · Nonprofit quarterly, "The Southern Magazine of Good Writing"

Overview

The Oxford American is a nonprofit quarterly literary magazine dedicated to the culture, writing, music, and visual art of the American South. Founded in 1992 in Oxford, Mississippi by Marc Smirnoff — who named it as a play on H.L. Mencken's The American Mercury — it describes itself as "The Southern Magazine of Good Writing" and publishes fiction, essays, poetry, and reported features, with a mandate that content be from and/or about the South. It is operated by The Oxford American Literary Project, Inc., a nonprofit arts and media organization, in alliance with the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) in Conway, where its editorial offices have been located since 2021. The magazine also produces live events, multimedia projects, and the Points South podcast.

The Oxford American has had an institutionally turbulent history — three closures, a move across state lines, an embezzlement scandal, and the firing of its founder amid sexual harassment allegations — before stabilizing as a nonprofit quarterly with UCA as its anchor partner. Since that stabilization it has won multiple National Magazine Awards, a Whiting Literary Magazine Prize (2023), and a $350,000 National Endowment for the Humanities grant for its podcast.

History

1992

Founded in Oxford, Mississippi

Marc Smirnoff launches the magazine as a monthly. John Grisham comes on as publisher and personal financial supporter through the 1990s; his novel A Painted House is serialized in the magazine. The National Magazine Award follows in 1998. Financial difficulties are chronic throughout the decade.

2002

First closure; move to Little Rock

The magazine suspends operations. Russ McDonough and At Home Media Group of Little Rock acquire it, move it to the River Market District, and relaunch it as a bimonthly in 2003. It publishes four issues and folds again.

2004–05

Nonprofit relaunch at University of Central Arkansas

The Oxford American Literary Project nonprofit is formed. UCA signs a contract with Smirnoff in May 2004, providing $490,000 in auxiliary funds (no state or tuition dollars) to restart publication. The magazine relaunches as a nonprofit quarterly in winter 2005 — a format and funding model it has maintained since.

2008–09

Embezzlement; UCA assumes business control

An embezzlement scandal leads UCA to demote business manager Wittenberg, assume control of the magazine's business operations, and install Warwick Sabin as publisher. An IRS debt results. In February 2009, an anonymous donor contributes $100,000 to repay it.

July 2012

Smirnoff and Fitzgerald fired; sexual harassment allegations

Several editorial employees allege sexual harassment against founder and editor Marc Smirnoff and managing editor Carol Ann Fitzgerald. Within a week of the allegations becoming public, both are fired. Publisher Warwick Sabin becomes interim editor. Smirnoff had been in a personal relationship with Fitzgerald, who joined the magazine in 2003.

September 2012

Roger Hodge named editor-in-chief

Texas native Roger Hodge, who edited Harper's Magazine from 2006 to 2010, is named editor-in-chief. He serves until May 2015.

October 2015

Eliza Borné named editor-in-chief

Little Rock native Eliza Borné, who joined the OA as associate editor in 2013, is named editor. The magazine wins a National Magazine Award in 2016 (General Excellence, Literature, Science, and Politics). Borné steps down in March 2021 to join the Central Arkansas Library System as Director of Development.

2021

Danielle A. Jackson named editor; offices return to UCA

Danielle A. Jackson, who joined as managing editor in February 2020, becomes editor — the first African American to hold the role. Editorial offices relocate from downtown Little Rock back to the UCA campus in Conway. Sara A. Lewis is promoted to executive director. The NEH awards $350,000 for the Points South podcast.

2023

Whiting Literary Magazine Prize

The Oxford American receives a Whiting Literary Magazine Prize. The judges' citation: "Oxford American is our most adventurous and authoritative window on the South, pushing beyond headlines to deliver a textured, ever-evolving portrait of its cultural wealth."

June 2024

Sara A. Lewis becomes editor-in-chief

Following Jackson's departure, Sara A. Lewis — who joined the OA in 2017 and had served as executive director — becomes editor-in-chief. Lewis holds a PhD from the University of Southern Mississippi, hosts and co-produces the Points South podcast, and teaches an OA-focused publishing practicum at UCA.

Editors

Marc Smirnoff

Founder and editor, 1992–2012 · fired July 2012 amid sexual harassment allegations

Warwick Sabin

Interim editor, July–September 2012 · also publisher

Roger Hodge

Editor-in-chief, September 2012–May 2015 · previously edited Harper's 2006–10

Eliza Borné

Editor-in-chief, October 2015–March 2021 · oversaw 2016 National Magazine Award win

Danielle A. Jackson

Editor, 2021–June 2024 · first African American editor in the magazine's history

Sara A. Lewis

Editor-in-chief, June 2024–present · PhD, University of Southern Mississippi · host, Points South podcast

The Southern Music Issue

Since 1997, the Oxford American has published an annual Southern Music Issue each fall, accompanied by a curated CD of recordings showcasing the region's varied musical traditions. The issue has won two National Magazine Awards for Best Single Topic Issue. It has covered artists ranging from R.E.M. and Isaac Hayes to Karen Dalton, Gary Stewart, Erma Franklin, Carl Perkins, and Nellie Lutcher — mixing celebrated names with those the OA considers criminally neglected. The University of Arkansas Press published The Oxford American Book of Great Music Writing in 2008, collecting essays from the issues.

Selected Contributors

Jesmyn WardKiese LaymonJohn Jeremiah SullivanCharles PortisZZ PackerRoy Blount Jr.Kevin BrockmeierLeslie JamisonBryan WashingtonNikky FinneyC.E. MorganRosanne CashStanley CrouchPeter GuralnickSteve MartinBronwen DickeyAllan GurganusErnest Gaines

The Oxford American
P.O. Box 3235, Little Rock, AR 72203
Editorial offices: University of Central Arkansas campus, Conway, AR
oxfordamerican.org · editors@oxfordamerican.org

Editor-in-Chief: Sara A. Lewis · Managing Editor: Christian Leus

Operated by: The Oxford American Literary Project, Inc. (nonprofit) in alliance with the University of Central Arkansas