The Pillory was first published by William & Mary students in 1991.
Since the late 1960s, students have frequently produced newspapers and other publications, including literary and creative journals, without official college sanction. The earliest one in the University Archives is The Owl, consisting of one issue published in 1854 by students at the college. The satirical and humorous Fat Head, distributed by The Flat Hat writers, has been in existence since at least 1939. The Special Collections Research Center also keeps copies of current alternative newspapers and publications.