Television: Lorne Michaels Donates His Archive to Harry Ransom Center
From the Harry Ransom Center, University of Texas:
Lorne Michaels, the creator and executive producer of Saturday Night Live, has donated his archive to the Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin. The Lorne Michaels Collection documents Michaels’s career in television from his earliest writing for Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In and The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show up through and including the nearly 50-year history of Saturday Night Live, the most Emmy Award-nominated show in television history.
The Lorne Michaels Collection provides insight into the creative and production processes behind Saturday Night Live, which, since its debut in 1975, has made a lasting imprint on American culture through its satiric, comedy sketches and memorable performances. The show has launched the careers of many of the brightest comedic performers of their generation, including Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Bill Murray and in so doing left an indelible impact on our cultural landscape. [Clip]
The collection also celebrates Michaels’s influence beyond SNL, showcasing his work on hit shows like The Kids in the Hall, as well as films like Wayne’s World and Mean Girls. Through these projects, Michaels has nurtured generations of comedic talent, shaping the careers of performers like Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Eddie Murphy, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Bill Murray while leaving an indelible mark on entertainment.
From rehearsal notes and sketches to annotated scripts and personal correspondence, the archive offers an intimate view of Michaels’s creative process and the collaborative spirit that has driven his success. Now part of the Harry Ransom Center’s renowned collection, this archive ensures that his legacy will inspire future storytellers, comedians, and creators for generations to come.
The collection will be fully available for research in January 2026.
Learn More, Read the Complete Announcement
Resources
- Direct to FAQ
- Direct to Info About Upcoming Exhibition: Live from New York! The Making of Lorne Michaels
See Also: Coverage From The NY Times
About Gary Price
Gary Price (gprice@gmail.com) is a librarian, writer, consultant, and frequent conference speaker based in the Washington D.C. metro area. He earned his MLIS degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. Price has won several awards including the SLA Innovations in Technology Award and Alumnus of the Year from the Wayne St. University Library and Information Science Program. From 2006-2009 he was Director of Online Information Services at Ask.com.
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