Blackwells

Blackwells is a name used for several related but distinct entities, including a historic British bookselling chain, an academic publishing house, and the surname itself.

Blackwell's bookshop refers to a long-running chain of bookstores in the United Kingdom, best known for its universities-focused shelves and academic titles. The Oxford flagship store was established in 1879 by Benjamin Henry Blackwell on Broad Street and grew into a network of branches serving students, researchers, and general readers. Over the 20th century Blackwell’s became a prominent independent bookseller in the UK, with stores in multiple cities and a strong online presence. The brand remains recognized for its emphasis on scholarly books and related services.

Blackwell Publishing was a major academic publishing house formed by the Blackwell family in the United Kingdom. It published journals and books across the sciences and humanities and played a central role in scholarly communication for much of the 20th century. In 2007, Blackwell Publishing merged with John Wiley & Sons to create Wiley-Blackwell, which later rebranded under the Wiley name as part of a broader corporate consolidation in academic publishing.

The surname Blackwell is used by many individuals and families. Notable bearers include Elizabeth Blackwell (1821–1910), the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States, and her sister Emily Blackwell, who also contributed to medicine. The plural form Blackwells can appear in references to people or to entities named after founders or families with the surname.