Lloyd Morrisett
Lloyd Morrisett (1929–2023) was an American experimental psychologist and foundation executive who co-founded the Children's Television WorkshopSesame WorkshopSesame Workshop (formerly Children's Television Workshop) is a nonprofit educational media organization based in New York City. Founded by Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett, it produces Sesame Street and other children's programs and runs early-education projects in many countries.Open the full entry (now Sesame Workshop) with Joan Ganz CooneyJoan Ganz CooneyJoan Ganz Cooney is a television producer who originated the preschool educational series Sesame Street. She co-founded the Children's Television Workshop (now Sesame Workshop) with Lloyd Morrisett and led the organization for many years.Open the full entry and was a co-founder of the children's educational program Sesame StreetSesame StreetSesame Street is an American preschool educational television program produced by the nonprofit Sesame Workshop (formerly Children's Television Workshop). It premiered in 1969, is known for its research-based curriculum and its Muppet characters, and has spawned local co-productions in many countries.Open the full entry.
Contents11 sections
Key facts
November 2, 1929Born in Oklahoma City
Lloyd Morrisett was born on November 2, 1929, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.[1]
He initially trained to be a teacher with a background in psychology, earned his bachelor’s degree at Oberlin College, did graduate work in psychology at UCLA, and received a doctorate in experimental psychology from Yale UniversityYale UniversityYale University is a research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Its predecessor, the Collegiate School, received a charter in 1701. Trustees chose New Haven in 1716; the institution became Yale College in 1718 and Yale University in 1887. Yale provides undergraduate, graduate and professional education and has 14 undergraduate residential colleges. As of October 2026, its president was Maurie McInnis, who took office in July 2024. In 2026, Yale expanded aid for incoming undergraduates and celebrated its 325th anniversary.Open the full entry.[2]
1966Backing Cooney’s Study of Preschool Television
In 1966 Morrisett, then a vice president of the Carnegie Corporation, supported Joan Ganz Cooney’s report on the potential uses of television in preschool education. Cooney recalled that he had been struck by television’s pull on his three-year-old daughter, who would sit watching test patterns early in the morning.[3]
1968Securing Funds and Co-Founding the Children's Television Workshop
Morrisett recalled that after Cooney completed her study in the spring of 1966, Carnegie, the Ford Foundation and the U.S. Office of Education joined in 1968 to fund the television experiment.[4]
He co-founded the Children's Television Workshop with Cooney and chaired its board of trustees for thirty years, after which he became a lifetime honorary trustee.[5]
1969–1998Leading the Markle Foundation
From 1969 to 1998 he was president of the John and Mary R. Markle Foundation, where he initiated its program in communications and information technology.[5]
1975–1981Chair of the Oberlin College Board
He served as a trustee of his alma mater, Oberlin College, and chaired its board from 1975 to 1981.[2]
1986–1995Chair of the RAND Corporation
He served on the board of the RAND Corporation for thirty years and was its chair from 1986 to 1995.[5]
February 1994Infonautics and Tucows Boards
From February 1994 he was a director of Infonautics, Inc. and a member of its audit and compensation committees, becoming chairman in March 1998; after Infonautics merged with Tucows in August 2001 he remained a Tucows director and was still serving in 2013.[6]
July 21, 2004Oral History Interview
On July 21, 2004, he gave an oral history interview to the Television Academy at Sesame Workshop in New York, conducted by Karen Herman, discussing the formation of the Workshop, the structure of its board and why it changed its name to Sesame Workshop.[7]
January 22, 2023Death
Morrisett died on January 22, 2023, at the age of 93.[1]
Related Organizations, Websites, and Public Accounts
Sesame Workshop: Official website: https://sesameworkshop.org/ (opens in a new window)[8]
Sources
- Lloyd Morrisett | Emmy Awards and Nominations | Television Academy (opens in a new window)
- Lloyd Morrisett, who helped launch 'Sesame Street,' dies (opens in a new window)
- A Letter from Joan Ganz Cooney (opens in a new window)
- A Timely Experiment in Television and Education (opens in a new window)
- Lloyd Morrisett - Sesame Workshop (opens in a new window)
- Tucows Inc. Definitive Proxy Statement (Schedule 14A), 2013 (opens in a new window)
- Lloyd Morrisett | Television Academy Interviews (opens in a new window)
- About Us - Sesame Workshop (opens in a new window)