1960s

I, like a lot of other people, take public radio and television for granted. It has become so much a part of my life that I can't imagine living without it. Of all my father's accomplishments, including his key role in founding NASA and serving as president of MIT, he felt most proud of his part in founding PBS. When I finally realized the importance my father played in founding public television, I became more aware of what it has to offer. My television is automatically set to TV12. I highlight my Applause magazine every month to make sure I don't miss my favorite programs. -- Carolyn (Kit) Staley, Berwyn, PA, daughter of James R. Killian, Jr. James R. Killian, Jr. served as Chairman of the Carnegie Commission on Educational Television from 1965 to 1967 and Chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in 1973 and 1974. Dr. Killian came to be considered the father of public broadcasting. He also served as the first Presidential Assistant for science and technology, an architect of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and President of Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

President Lyndon Johnson (right) presents to James R. Killian, Jr., the father of public television and of Kit Staley (facing page), the pen with which he signed the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967.

Julia Child began her public television career 33 years ago as The French Chef, the first how-to cooking show on television. She returns again in the fall of 1999 with a new series with chef Jacques Pépin.

Fred Rogers, creator, producer and star of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, first appeared on public television in 1968 and continues delighting young children to this day.

1963 |||||||||||||| WHYY-TV signs on as TV12, licensed to Wilmington, DE, with a VHF signal of 316,000 watts. Channel 35 changes its call letters to WUHY-TV and the radio station becomes WUHY-FM. WHYY retains its offices in Philadelphia and opens a second studio in Wilmington in a vacant red school house. WHYY begins its TV coverage of Delaware.	1964 ||||||||||||| Walter Annenberg donates WFIL studios in West Philadelphia, the former home of American Bandstand and the first studio designed specifically for television.	1964 ||||||||||||| WHYY-TV is the first public station in the U.S. to broadcast in color.
1967 |||||||||||||| President Johnson signs the Public Broadcasting Act, establishing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to provide funds to support non-commercial broadcasting. WHYY helps establish the Pennsylvania Public Television Network, a state-wide consortium of public television stations.	1968 ||||||||||||| Mister Rogers moves his neighborhood to TV12. The Children's Television Workshop is established.	1969 ||||||||||||| The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), established by an act of Congress as a program distribution service, begins operations. WHYY joins 195 other stations as PBS affiliates. Big Bird steps onto Sesame Street and Louis Rukeyser onto Wall Street. The Forsythe Saga captivates TV12 viewers.
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