Lorne Michaels, the creator of the long-running sketch comedy television show “Saturday Night Live” donated the materials from the show that launched

Lorne Michaels, creator of NBC's “Saturday Night Live", has donated his archive to UT Austin's Harry Ransom Center.

The Harry Ransom Center at UT Austin received a collection donation from “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels.

The archive offers a deep dive into the creative and production processes behind SNL, which has shaped American culture since its debut in 1975. MORE | #TBT: Robert De Niro iconic archives, including his two Oscars,

AUSTIN, Texas (AP ... Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and others. It also includes some of 80-year-old Michaels' personal correspondence.

Lorne Michaels donates his "Saturday Night Live" archive to UT Austin's Harry Ransom Center, showcasing nearly 50 years of TV history.

Shelley Duvall, from left, Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, Lorne Michaels and Laraine Newman pose backstage at "Saturday Night Live" in 1977. The image is among the items in the Lorne Michaels Collection, an archive the series creator has donated to the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin.

The University of Texas at Austin supports cutting-edge research in all disciplines, offering more than 200 dedicated research units and centers. Several research groups report directly to the Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors ...

T he ever-iconic Saturday Night Live has officially entered its landmark 50th season. Created by Lorne Michaels, the late-night sketch comedy show has been airing on NBC since 197

Fey began writing for SNL in 1997, joining the cast in 2000 Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty; Will Heath/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Tina Fey remembers a rough start ...

The comic-actor, 56, spoke about his experience while speaking on the new Peacock docuseries SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night.

Detective-turned-tour-guide Dennis O’Leary stands in front of John’s of 12th Street in New York, one of Manhattan’s oldest red-sauce joints. Just outside is where Lucky Luciano shot Umberto Valenti. The Italian restaurant is a stop on O’Leary’s mafia walking tour. (Bryan Anselm/for The Washington Post)