The journal publishes essays, notes, reviews, letters, and a comprehensive checklist of recent Joyce-related publications.

The site provides an archive of past issues, a resources page, links to full-text options available on JSTOR and Project MUSE, a calendar of Joyce events, and an on-line checklist.

The James Joyce Quarterly was established in 1963 at the University of Tulsa by Thomas F. Staley, who was the journal's editor-in-chief for its first twenty-five years.

In 2022 Latham announced he was stepping down as editor, with Spoo returning as co-editor along with Jeff Drouin.

[2] Notable contributors to the JJQ include Fritz Senn, Hans Walter Gabler, Morris Beja, John McCourt, Vicki Mahaffey, Margot Norris, and Michael Groden.