AUSTIN, Texas — Lorne Michaels, the mastermind behind the beloved sketch comedy series “Saturday Night Live,” has generously provided his career archive to the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas. The center made this announcement on Wednesday, highlighting the significance of this donation.

The archive consists of a treasure trove of materials, including rehearsal notes, scripts, and photographs showcasing some of the most memorable characters and sketches from a show that has launched the careers of many comedians such as Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey, and Amy Poehler, among others. In addition, it contains some personal correspondences from the 80-year-old Michaels himself.

“Saturday Night Live” holds the record for being the television show with the most Emmy Award nominations in history and is currently celebrating its 50th season. An event titled “SNL50: The Anniversary Special” is scheduled to air live on February 16.

While the Ransom Center may be situated far from Broadway and the show’s iconic New York City origins, it is regarded as one of the foremost literary and humanities archives and research institutions in the United States. The center boasts an impressive literary collection that includes works from Nobel laureate J.M. Coetzee and Pulitzer Prize winners David Mamet and Norman Mailer, as well as materials related to actor Robert De Niro, the acclaimed television series “Mad Men,” and the Hollywood producer David O. Selznick’s “Gone With the Wind” collection.

Michaels’ collection chronicles his television career, starting from his early contributions to “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” and “The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show,” with the majority focusing on “Saturday Night Live.” To celebrate this donation, the Ransom Center plans to launch an exhibition titled “Live from New York! The Making of Lorne Michaels” in September. The exhibit will feature sketches, drafts, correspondence, videos, photos, and various artifacts, aimed at illustrating the production of the show as well as its significant impact on culture and politics.

“Lorne Michaels has kept us entertained and laughing into the late hours for the past 50 years,” stated Stephen Enniss, the Director of the Ransom Center. “I am confident that his archive will be a vital resource for students and researchers seeking to explore the social, political, and cultural narratives of our era. We are immensely grateful for his trust in us to preserve this extraordinary legacy.”

A representative for Michaels has not yet provided a response to inquiries for comment.