The New Yorker marked its centenary in 2025, a hundred years after its first publication on February 21, 1925. Its anniversary offers three useful ways to explore the magazine: the official centennial collection, the newly available online archive, and a printed anthology of its fiction. Each captures a different part of a publication that grew from a Manhattan-centered humor magazine into a wide-ranging journal of reporting, criticism, fiction and culture.
From a Manhattan comic paper to a cultural institution
The New Yorker’s official account traces its beginnings to 1925, when it was a “fifteen-cent comic paper” aimed at readers interested in Manhattan life. Over time, it expanded into in-depth reporting, political and cultural commentary, fiction, poetry and humor. Its work now also includes a daily online operation, audio, film and television, and live events. The magazine’s About page describes that evolution and its continuing print edition.
The centennial is also a chance to widen the founding story beyond a single editor. Harold Ross was the founding editor, and the anniversary collection identifies Jane Grant as a co-founder—someone often overlooked in accounts of the magazine’s origins. The collection frames Ross’s ambition as a publication of wit, reporting, fiction, art and criticism: a “reflection in word and picture of metropolitan life.” The official centennial collection presents this as the magazine’s own account of its beginnings.
Condé Nast’s anniversary announcement recalls that Ross’s prospectus promised work that would be interpretive rather than “stenographic,” and would pursue integrity, accuracy, wit and humanity. Those are the publisher’s descriptions of the magazine’s founding ideals, not independent proof that every article across a century has met them. In the same announcement, editor David Remnick described the continuity this way: “The New Yorker has evolved in many ways over time—taking on new subjects, new writers and artists, new technologies—but the same principles animate our work.” Condé Nast published the statement on January 24, 2025.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors#1 Best Overall
What the 100th Anniversary Issue contained
The anniversary issue carried the cover dates February 17 & 24, 2025. Condé Nast called it the magazine’s 5,057th issue. Its covers revisited Eustace Tilley, the character associated with the first cover, and the issue paired new reporting with retrospective pieces and essays. The official collection lists contributions by Jill Lepore, Adam Gopnik and David Remnick. The collection identifies the issue and its contributors; Condé Nast’s announcement supplies the issue number and program details.
The wider 2025 program included four centennial issues, digital projects, fiction and poetry anthologies, a cartoon game called Laugh Lines, and events. These were anniversary-year initiatives, not a calendar of events still to come. The anniversary collection is the most direct starting point for its editorial material and retrospective features.
How to explore the expanded archive
The centenary coincided with a major change in access. In January 2025, Condé Nast announced that the magazine’s complete archive was being digitized and estimated that the project would make more than four thousand issues explorable when complete. That was a prospective estimate at announcement time, not a current issue count. In an October 2025 newsletter, The New Yorker said the full archive was available to read at newyorker.com. The newsletter states the archive’s online availability.
The publisher distinguishes searchable article access from the replica edition, which recreates print issues page by page as they originally appeared. Its FAQ says nearly every article published since 1925 is available in full, and that every print issue is available in the replica edition. The replica is a subscriber feature; the FAQ also says nonsubscribers have limited website access, while subscriptions provide unlimited access to the site, archive and app. These are the publisher’s stated access terms and may change. Check the FAQ for current details.
Rank #3
| What you want | Where to start | Access distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Anniversary essays, covers and features | Official centennial collection | Centennial material and issue highlights |
| Articles by topic, author or date | Online archive | Full-text archive access is subject to the publisher’s access terms |
| Issues as originally laid out in print | Replica edition details | Page-by-page replica is a subscriber feature |
| A physical collection of fiction | A Century of Fiction in The New Yorker | Availability can change; the official listing showed it sold out when checked on October 7, 2026 |
The New Yorker’s digital-access page describes app access to issues dating back to 2008 and an online archive of issues since 1925 in their original form. For the expanded searchable archive’s launch timing, the later October 2025 newsletter is the clearer source; for the distinction between article text and page-by-page replicas, the FAQ is more specific. Archive announcement · Access FAQ.
A printed anthology for readers who want fiction in one volume
A Century of Fiction in The New Yorker, edited by fiction editor Deborah Treisman, is a 1,152-page physical anthology listed by the magazine’s official store. The listing was marked sold out on October 7, 2026, so it is a title to look for rather than a guaranteed purchase option. The listing does not establish an Amazon edition or availability there. Check the official store listing for current stock.
Rank #4
The official anniversary store also listed centennial merchandise, including a spot-art poster, crewneck, Eustace Tilley tote, Sleepy Jones pajamas and a Printworks chess set; some items were marked sold out. These are contextual traces of the anniversary program, not evidence that any item remains in stock. The anniversary collection shows current listing status.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choosing a starting point
- For a guided look at the centenary: begin with the official collection, which gathers anniversary features and issue material.
- For a particular article or era: use the online archive, keeping in mind the publisher’s subscription and access terms.
- For the original print experience: consult the replica-edition FAQ about subscriber access, or ask the publisher about select printed back issues. The FAQ says some print back issues dating to 1925 may be available through its Back Issues Department; availability varies.
- For fiction collected in a book: check the official listing for A Century of Fiction in The New Yorker before planning a purchase, because its stock status can change.
Sources: The New Yorker centennial collection; About The New Yorker; Condé Nast centennial announcement; The New Yorker FAQ; archive announcement; and the official fiction anthology listing.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchQuick Recap
Best Value
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
