Archives Center, National Museum of American History

Guide to the Bill Nye Papers

Summary

Collection ID:
NMAH.AC.1383
Creators:
Nye, Bill
Dates:
1970 - 2014
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
12 Cubic feet
28 boxes, 1 oversize folder
Repository:
The collection documents Bill Nye's early life, his Science Guy persona and its development for his television program Bill Nye the Science Guy.

Scope and Contents

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.

Arrangement

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

Biographical / Historical

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.

Administration

Author
Alison Oswald
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Collection donated by Bill Nye, April 28, 2016.
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.

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Bill Nye Papers, 1970-2014, Archives Center, National Museum of American History
Conditions Governing Access
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.
Conditions Governing Use
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.

Related Materials
Materials in the Archives Center
Mr. Wizard Papers (AC1326)

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Clippings -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs -- 20th century Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Letters (correspondence) -- 20th century. Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Science -- Study and teaching Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Television -- educational shows Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Television personalities Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Laboratory notebooks -- 1970-2000 Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives Center, National Museum of American History
P.O. Box 37012
Suite 1100, MRC 601
Washington, D.C. 20013-7012
archivescenter@si.edu