In a significant announcement on January 15, 2025, Lorne Michaels, the creator and executive producer of ‘Saturday Night Live,’ entrusted his extensive collection of SNL materials to the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas in Austin. This donation, which encompasses over 50 years of SNL’s legacy, includes scripts, videos, production notes, and other memorabilia that provide a comprehensive view of the show’s history and evolution. Michaels expressed his hopes that the archive would benefit future generations, stating, “This collection reflects not just the history of SNL, but also the culture of our times. It’s important that these materials be preserved where they can inspire students and researchers.”
The Harry Ransom Center, known for its vast literary and artistic collections, will house the SNL archive in a dedicated space aimed at making the materials accessible to the public. Eric Davis, the center’s director, highlighted the significance of this donation, calling it a ‘cultural treasure.’ He emphasized, “To have the opportunity to preserve and share such a critical part of American television history is both an honor and a responsibility. We are excited about the possibilities for research and exhibition that this will allow.”
The collection, which spans multiple decades, also brings to light behind-the-scenes insights from the production of the show that has been a staple of American late-night television. This rare archive showcases the impact SNL has had on political satire, comedy, and television as a whole. The donation is part of ongoing efforts to preserve critical cultural artifacts, emphasizing the importance of documentation in the study of media and its societal influences.
