Tippi Hedren, Deidre Hall & More Set for NATAS/Smithsonian Donation Ceremony

The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History is thrilled to be adding artifacts that reflect the contributions of daytime television programming to the national entertainment collection in a special ceremony that continues an on-going partnership with the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS). The donations-from "Days of Our Lives," in celebration of the show 50th Anniversary, will be presented by Deidre Hall, Susan Seafoth Hayes and Executive Producer, Greg Meng who is also the author of the 50th Anniversary book.

The objects range from show scripts and original art to set props and other memorabilia, including sets of the iconic Horton Family Christmas Ornaments and a pledge of the iconic Hourglass which has opened each episode for 50 years.

The ceremony celebrates a collecting initiative put in place last year by the museum in partnership with NATAS that aims to help the museum expand its capacity to tell the story of daytime television and the Daytime Emmy Awards.

"Everyone at NATAS is thrilled to continue our relationship with the Smithsonian and Daytime television by bringing these iconic items and stars from "Days of Our Lives" to the museum," said Chuck Dages, Chairman of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. "We already have plans for another very exciting Donation Ceremony next spring with some great surprises!"

The museum's television collections contain costumes, scripts, props and set pieces including Archie Bunker's chair from "All in the Family," marionettes from "The Howdy Doody Show," the puffy shirt from "Seinfeld" and Denis Leary's firefighter costume from "Rescue Me." An exhibition exploring American culture is currently in development and will draw on the museum's television, theater, music, sports and entertainment collections. The future exhibition is scheduled to open in late 2016.

The first Daytime Emmy Awards show was broadcast in 1974 and hosted by Barbara Walters and Peter Marshall. The Daytime Emmys represent the best of television programming in eight categories-daytime dramas, talk shows, morning programs, game shows, children's programming, legal/court shows, culinary shows and lifestyle and travel programs-as well as "new approaches" categories.