Mask
Mister Rogers would sometimes play with masks on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. He said that sometimes, when you're uncomfortable or shy, you might feel like putting on a mask. In this photo, Fred is sitting in his office at WQED.
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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Makeup
Margy Whitmer was the producer of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. She worked closely with Fred on many of his projects. Here she helps Fred to apply his makeup as he prepares to shoot an episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.
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Thoughts 1356-1360
The series of "Thoughts for the Week" offers us insight into Fred Rogers' goals with each week of programs he produced. During this week, Mister Rogers talks about moving quickly versus moving slowly. He points out that people with the same name are still different people.
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Sign Language
Fred Rogers studied many languages throughout his life, including French, Spanish, Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and American Sign Language. He presented these languages in different ways throughout the Neighborhood series.
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"Mister Rogers" Music
Fred Rogers composed all of the music for Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. He studied music composition at Rollins College and continued to write for the rest of his life. For Fred, the piano represented more than work; it was therapy and a means for him to play and explore.
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.