The National Comedy Center archives is the United States’ congressionally-designated repository for comedy artifacts. The archive collects materials that illuminate the history and craft of comedy – handwritten notes, annotated scripts, correspondence, photography, scrapbooks, recordings, and screen/stage-used props and wardrobe. Archival collections support the National Comedy Center’s educational initiatives and research services, and put museum visitors in the presence of some of comedy’s most legendary DNA.
The National Comedy Center is proud to partner with artists, estates, collectors, and peer institutions to preserve and exhibit objects that represent comedy’s great artistic, social, and political contributions to American culture.
Archive Partners Include:
The Andy Kaufman Memorial Trust
Alan and Robin Zweibel
Bill Marx and the Harpo Marx Family
Billy Crystal
Bob Booker
Carl Reiner and Family
Carol Burnett & Bob Mackie
Carson Entertainment Group
Dan Aykroyd
Desilu, Too & Estate of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz
Dr. Demento
The Ernie Kovacs and Edie Adams Estate
Gallagher
The Garry Shandling Estate
George Schlatter
George Shapiro and Jerry Seinfeld
Georgiana Guy-Rodrigues and the Rose Marie Estate
The Harold Ramis Family
Joan Dangerfield
The John Rich Estate
The Jonathan Winters Family
Kelly Carlin & the George Carlin Estate
The Lenny Bruce Memorial Foundation
Lewis Black
The Library of Congress
Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner
Mark and Alison Russell
Marx Brothers, Inc.
Melissa Rivers and the Joan Rivers Estate
NBCUniversal Archives and Collections
Paramount Pictures
Paul Anderson, Christine Anderson, and the Brad Anderson Family
Paul Feig
The Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy
Robert Sherman and the Allan Sherman Estate
Rusty Warren and Elizabeth Rizzo
Sarah and Shelley Berman
The Smithsonian Institution
The Stan Freberg Estate
Tommy and Dick Smothers
Warner Brothers Archive
Weird Al Yankovic
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+
National Comedy Center, Carl Reiner Announce Preservation of Historic “Dick Van Dyke Show” Archive
The National Comedy Honors Lucille Ball on 30th Anniversary of Legend’s Passing
National Comedy Center to Preserve Historic Johnny Carson Archive
Making an Archives Gift
The National Comedy Center is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. To inquire about making an Archives Gift, please contact Laura LaPlaca, Director of Archives at llaplaca@comedycenter.org.