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Bill Nye Papers

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Creator
Nye, Bill
Topic
Science -- Study and teaching
Television -- educational shows
Television personalities
Provenance
Collection donated by Bill Nye, April 28, 2016.
Creator
Nye, Bill
See more items in
Bill Nye Papers
Summary
The collection documents Bill Nye's early life, his Science Guy persona and its development for his television program Bill Nye the Science Guy.
Biographical / Historical
William Sanford "Bill" Nye, (November 27, 1955-), was born in Bethesda, Maryland to Edwin D. Nye and Jacqueline B. Jenkins. Nye graduated from Cornell University (1977) with a degree in mechanical engineering and moved to Seattle to work for Boeing as a mechanical engineer (1977-1985). Nye also worked stand-up comedy and in 1985 joined Seattle's local comedy show Almost Live! During a 1987 episode of Almost Live! Nye wore a science lab coat and conducted an experiment launching the "Bill Nye the Science Guy" persona. From 1993-1998 Nye hosted Bill Nye the Science Guy. The show aired on PBS and was later syndicated to local television stations.
Extent
12 Cubic feet (28 boxes, 1 oversize folder)
Date
1970 - 2014
Archival Repository
Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Identifier
NMAH.AC.1383
Type
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Clippings
Photographs
Letters (correspondence)
Laboratory notebooks
Citation
Bill Nye Papers, 1970-2014, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into eight series. Series 1: Personal Materials, 1964-2014 Series 2: Subject Files, 1971-2009 Series 3: Scrapbooks, 1981, 1987-2003 Series 4: Bill Nye the Science Guy, 1989-1998 Series 5: The Eyes of Nye, 1998-2003 Series 6: Fan Mail, 1995-2001 Series 7: Photographs, 1969-2000 Series 8: Press Clippings, 1973, 1988-2004
Rights
Reproduction restricted due to copyright or trademark. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Genre/Form
Clippings -- 20th century
Photographs -- 20th century
Letters (correspondence) -- 20th century.
Laboratory notebooks -- 1970-2000
Scope and Contents
The collection documents Bill Nye's early life, his Science Guy persona and its development for his television program Bill Nye the Science Guy. Included in the collection are patents, awards, speeches, subject files, correspondence, email, fan mail, photographs, scripts and promotional materials for television shows, and video recordings.
Restrictions
Collection is open for research. Reference copies for audio and moving images materials do not exist. Use of these materials requires special arrangement. Gloves must be worn when handling unprotected photographs and negatives. Social Security numbers and other personally identifiable information has been rendered unreadable and redacted. Researchers may use the photocopies in the collection. The remainder of the collection has no restrictions.
Related Materials
Materials in the Archives Center Mr. Wizard Papers (AC1326)
Separated Materials
Artifacts related to Bill Nye are located in the following curatorial divisions: Division of Home and Community Life; Division of Work and Industry; Division of Culture and the Arts (now Division of Cultural and Community Life) and the Division of Medicine and Science.
Related link
Record ID
ebl-1562767855543-1562767856089-0
Metadata Usage
CC0
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep88d49dd39-125b-4edf-bcc4-7eeba4bf847e

In the Collection

Pages

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  • Sundial Productions, LLC

  • #2-23, Germs

  • U.S. Space and Rocket Center

  • The Open House Show (NBC)

  • Press kit

  • Subject Files

  • Trademark for Bill Nye the Science Guy

  • District of Columbia Public School report cards

  • The Amazing Sea Monkeys

  • Nye, Bill (acting resume contact sheets)

  • Science Party

  • Bike Tech (newsletter)

  • Junior Ranger Award, Carlsbad Caverns

  • Scrapbook

  • Almost Live!

  • Science of Sex

  • National Science Foundation advisors

  • National Science Foundation proposal for Bill Nye the Science Guy series

  • Bill Nye supplemental

  • PorchLight Entertainment (clippings and press releases)

  • Bill Nye the Science Guy

  • Press Clippings

  • 1997 October-1997 November

  • 108, Astrobiology (learning objectives and notes)

  • Balance area elevator feel actuator (invention disclosure for Boeing Company)

  • Press kit

  • Press kit

  • Cornell University (commencement program and invitation)

  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

  • Press Clippings

  • Sagan Planet Walk (dedication ceremony)

  • Teachers Guide

  • Green Cross Millenium Awards

  • Target Stores (Earth Day)

  • Toysmart.com

  • Energy Tips

  • Press Clippings

  • #2-08, The Brain

  • Almost Live!

  • Fan mail

  • A Study of Bill Nye the Science Guy, outreach and image

  • Fan mail

  • Trip strip for use in connection with a golf and motorcycle helmet (patent application)

  • #2-11, Atmosphere

  • Press Clippings

  • Scrapbooks

  • Boy Scouts

  • 109, Addiction (online edit)

  • 108, Astrobiology

  • Fan mail

  • 110, Nuclear Energy (online edit)

  • Scrapbook

  • KOIN-TV (Daniel Marchant) agreement

  • #2-17, Plants

  • Boeing Company (aircraft and equipment)

  • Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers Technical Conference

  • Renaissance Weekend

  • Press Clippings

  • Nye, Bill (television specials)

  • Win Ben Stein's Money (award)

  • Speech scripts

  • Scrapbook

  • Disney video leasing library (brochure)

  • Herbert, Don (Mr. Wizard)

  • Dressers/wardrobe

  • Fan mail

  • KCTS Television (psychic)

  • #2-25, Waves

  • #2-11, Momentum

  • Press Clippings

  • Disney Educational Productions

  • Trademark for Nye Files

  • Personal Materials

  • Scrapbook

  • Publishers (correspondence)

  • Scrapbook

  • Learning objectives and notes

  • National Science Foundation proposal for Bill Nye the Science Guy series

  • BN 2-39, Nutrition

  • #2-22, Friction

  • Scrapbook

  • Gore, Al

  • Fan mail (Alcott School, Riverside, California)

  • Sun-Mate Corporation (science educational products)

  • Wilson, Doug

  • Business card

  • Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Carl Sagan Discovery Center

  • #2-06, Balance

  • Adventures in Boating with Bill Nye the Science Guy

  • Pilot script

  • Press Clippings

  • Brick breaker

  • Lyrics for the show

  • Microsoft (script)

  • Schedule

  • #102, Pseudoscience

  • King Broadcasting Company (Bill Nye the Weather Guy)

  • #2-34, Animal Locomotion

  • Stop the Rock game (Pacific Interactive) press kit

  • Fan mail

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Miscellaneous
View Slideshow
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer
View Finding aid

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