The Fred Rogers Archive

The Fred Rogers Archive preserves over 22,000 items from Fred Rogers' personal and professional life. The Archive is essential to the work of the Fred Rogers Institute, and is a source for research into children’s television, early childhood development, and Fred Rogers’ unique role in bridging both fields. Undergraduate students, graduate students, and researchers may request access provisions to study Fred’s life and legacy. Please complete the form below to reach out to our Archivist. Below, you can explore a sampling of the Archive - you're sure to find a treasure!
 

Music Notes
Image

Music Notes

Mister Rogers is standing in Negri's Music Shop, studying music notes written on the chalkboard. He is in the studio section of the Shop where visitors would come for music lessons or to perform for Mister Rogers.

Read more

Daniel Singing

This clip of Daniel Tiger and Lady Aberlin is from "Making Mistakes" week. Inspired by events that happened earlier in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, Daniel is thinking about mistakes. He wonders if he is a mistake because he is tame and lives in a clock, unlike any other tigers he knows.

Read more

Around the Neighborhood

Each "Around the Neighborhood" newsletter focuses on a Neighborhood theme week. The front page of the newsletter is an explanation of the child psychology theories behind each theme week.

Read more

Thoughts 1381-1385

"Thoughts for the Week" allow us to read why Fred Rogers presented certain topics on the Neighborhood, and how he tried to help children understand those themes. These thoughts are about fantasy and reality, wishing and hoping.

Read more

Mister Rogers Visits Russia

Mister Rogers and a translator meet Tatiana Vedeneeva, the host of Good Night Little Ones. She shows them the television studio where she films her children's program. Mister Rogers plays the piano and meets the crew. Daniel Tiger even overcomes a bit of shyness to meet one of the puppets.

Read more

Margy Whitmer Oral History

Margy Whitmer was the producer of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood and worked closely with Fred starting in the early 1980s. In this oral history clip she tells about the public service announcements Fred filmed during difficult times.

Read more

I'm Angry
PDF

I'm Angry

The first time Mister Rogers sang this song, he was remembering a time when he was angry with a friend. His negative emotion scared him and he needed to talk about it with a caring adult. This song acknowledges that fear is closely entwined with anger.

Read more

Learning About Words: Letter for Creative Teaching

When Fred Rogers would write or speak about books and reading, he always mentioned his childhood librarian, "Aunt" Sara McComb. Fred learned to love reading at a young age because Aunt Sara shared her appreciation of books with the children at the library.

Read more

Pianos
Image

Pianos

Johnny Costa provided the piano music for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. He was the music director until his death in 1996. He and Fred were great friends and bonded over their music practice.

Read more

Contributing to the Archive

If you have an item you believe belongs in the Fred Rogers Archive, please let us know! The items in the Archive must be directly related to Fred Rogers and his production company. We do not accept self-created items such as creative, journalistic, or research writings, or artwork. We do not purchase items to include in the Archive or sell memorabilia from the Archive. 

Contact the Archivist

The Fred Rogers Institute Archivist is available for requests and inquiries from students and researchers. 

Contact