“Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” was nationally broadcast from 1968 to 1976, and again from 1979 to 2001; although the show existed in different iterations prior. During the thirty minute program children were encouraged to be their true selves, use their imaginations, and show kindness to their neighbors.

However, the show broke plenty of ground in childrens’ television programming. Within the first week the show was alluding to the Vietnam war; and the character, Officer Clemons, was one of the first regular roles for a Black person on television. At a time when there was uproar about desegregating swimming pools, Mr. Rogers and Officer Clemons washed off their feet together in a shared pool— a subtle, but important statement. Over the years, grief, divorce, racism, and death were all handled on the show.

Margaret McFarland had a significant influence on how content was presented onair; in fact, she reviewed the scripts until her death, suggesting improvements on the material.

“She will make just one suggestion, and it raises the whole level,” Rogers told The Pittsburgh Press. “She was an enormous influence on me.”Support Ballsy History