The National Comedy Center’s archive was established in 2018 with a mission to preserve and provide access to historical materials that represent comedy’s vital contributions to American culture. It is the United States’ Congressionally designated archive for comedy history, and the only national-scale research and conservation facility dedicated to the art form.
The archive is home to unique and historically significant collections that trace comedy’s evolution and illuminate its roles as a catalyst for cultural change, a unifying social force, and a conduit for free expression. Highlights include George Carlin’s handwritten joke files; Lenny Bruce’s trial records and annotated manuscripts; Joan Rivers’ card catalog of 70,000 jokes; the papers of innovators like Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Betty White, and the Smothers Brothers; an extensive oral history collection featuring voices like Lily Tomlin, Dick Gregory, and Norman Lear; and creative materials from landmark series including Saturday Night Live, In Living Color, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. In March 2021, the archive was named in honor of founding advisory board member and comedy legend Carl Reiner, whose own comprehensive career archives were added to the permanent collection.
The archive supports academic research and educational initiatives, and its collections annotate the National Comedy Center’s museum experience, which brings together interactive storytelling, exclusive artist interviews, and thousands of curated comedy performances to offer a panoramic view of comedy history across all eras and genres.
Through partnerships with artists and estates, the archive continues to build its
growing collection of artifacts and interviews, with contributors including:
Alan & Robin Zweibel
Allan Sherman Estate
Andy Kaufman Memorial Trust
Betty White Ludden Estate
Billy Crystal
Bob Booker
Bob Carroll, Jr. Estate
Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation
Bob Einstein Estate
Bette Midler
Brad Anderson Estate
Byron Allen
Carl Reiner & the Reiner Family
Carol Burnett & Bob Mackie
Caroline Hirsch
Carson Entertainment Group
Catherine O’Hara
Cheech Marin
Conan O’Brien
Dan Aykroyd
David and Jerry Zucker
Desilu Too & Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Estate
Dick Gregory
Dick Van Dyke
Doc Severinsen
Don Rickles Estate
Dr. Demento
Ernie Kovacs & Edie Adams Estate
Gabriel “Fluffy” Iglesias
Garry Shandling Estate
George & Jolene Brand Schlatter
George Carlin Estate
George Lopez
George Shapiro & Jerry Seinfeld
George Wallace
Gilbert Gottfried
Greg Daniels
Harold Ramis Family
James Burrows
Janeane Garofalo
Jay Leno
Jeff Foxworthy
Jeff Ross
Jerry Stiller & Anne Meara Estate
Jim Gaffigan
Jimmy Fallon
Joan Rivers Estate, Melissa Rivers
John Rich Estate
Jonathan Winters Family
Judd Apatow
Keegan-Michael Key
Keenen Wayans
Laraine Newman
Larry Mazzeo
Larry Wilmore
Lenny Bruce Memorial Foundation
Lewis Black
Lily Tomlin & Jane Wagner
Margaret Cho
Maria Bamford
Mark & Ali Russell
Martin Short
Marx Brothers, Inc.
Merrill Markoe
Nate Bargatze
NBCUniversal
Nikki Glaser
Norman Lear
Paramount Pictures
Pat Paulsen Estate
Patton Oswalt
Paul Feig
Paula Poundstone
Phil Rosenthal
Pixar
Richard Pryor Family
Richard Lewis
Rodney Dangerfield Estate
Rose Marie Estate
Rusty Warren & Elizabeth Rizzo
Sarah & Shelley Berman
Sarah Silverman
Stan Freberg Estate
Steve Martin
Tamara Rawitt
Tommy & Dick Smothers
Tommy Davidson
Upright Citizens Brigade
Warner Brothers
“Weird Al” Yankovic
ARCHIVES INQUIRIES
Please contact [email protected] to:
Schedule remote or in-person research services
The National Comedy Center’s reading room is open for in-person research by appointment for approved scholarly, artistic, and journalistic projects. Remote research services are available on an hourly basis. Click here to complete your research application.
Donate materials to the archives
The National Comedy Center is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, which collects materials that illuminate the comedic process, chronicle the history of comedy, and/or demonstrate comedy’s role as a social, political, and artistic cultural force. Collections include printed and manuscript materials, photographs, artworks, three-dimensional artifacts, clothing and props, and most audiovisual formats.
Make a financial donation
100% of your gift to the National Comedy Center helps us achieve our mission to collect, preserve and make available artifacts that illuminate the history of comedy.
Request reference reproductions
The National Comedy Center provides reference reproductions in the service of research and scholarship. All requests for permission to reproduce materials will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
“It was a true honor to serve as a founding advisory board member with Carl Reiner. Carl believed in the importance of this non-profit cultural institution. He and I both knew that it’s up to the artists in our industry, and all those who value comedy’s heritage, to come together and support this vital work, so that comedy’s rich history can be shared and celebrated for generations to come.”
– Lewis Black, Founding Chair, National Comedy Center Advisory Board
News from the archives
- National Comedy Center to Preserve Don Rickles Archive
- NY Times – A ‘Crown Jewel of Comedy’: The Joan Rivers Card Catalog of Jokes Finds a Home
- NY Times – Carl Reiner’s Archives Will Go to the National Comedy Center
- TODAY Show – Rob Reiner and Mel Brooks talk about memorial for Carl Reiner
- Comedy Legend Carl Reiner’s Archives to be Donated to the National Comedy Center
- NY Times – George Carlin’s Belongings Find Home at National Comedy Center
- LA Times – Shelley Berman broke the mold for comics, now he’ll be remembered at the new National Comedy Center
- Archive of Pioneering Comedienne Rose Marie is Donated to the National Comedy Center
- The National Comedy Center Honors Lucille Ball on 30th Anniversary of Legend’s Passing
- NY Times – Here’s Johnny Carson’s Personal Papers and How You Can See Them
- National Comedy Center Named ‘Best New Museum’ in the Country by USA Today
- TIME – National Comedy Center Among ‘World’s 100 Greatest Places’
- People – National Comedy Center Is One of People Magazine’s ‘100 Reasons to Love America’
Donors to the Carl Reiner Department of Archives and Preservation will receive the following benefits:
Benefits are cumulative and grow as donations are made at each level
- $50 (and up)
Access to a quarterly Archives and Preservation e-newsletter - $100 (and up)
Named recognition on the Carl Reiner Department of Archives and Preservation website & receive a NCC tshirt - $250 (and up)
Two (2) complimentary admission passes to the National Comedy Center and Lucy Desi Museum (one-time use) - $500 (and up)
Two (2) Annual (for one year) memberships - $1,000 (and up)
Permanent naming recognition inside the National Comedy Center’s galleries - $5,000 (and up)
Private National Comedy Center gallery and archives tour - $10,000 (and up)
Permanent naming on the National Comedy Center’s Founders Wall - In addition to the benefits above donors at:
- $30,000 (and up)
will also have a Permanently Named Internship within the Carl Reiner Department of Archives and Preservation - $50,000 (and up)
will also receive a Permanently Named Fellowship within the Carl Reiner Department of Archives and Preservation - $100,000 (and up)
will also receive a Permanently Named Staff Position within the Carl Reiner Department of Archives and Preservation