One image from Lew Klein's archive shows him with President Lyndon Johnson (L).

The Klein collection is a vast study of the television industry in the 20th century.

It’s episodes of the landmark television show “American Bandstand” and “This is Your Life.” It’s photographs of entertainers and athletes.

And now, it’s a permanent resource in Temple University Libraries.

Temple celebrated the donation to the Special Collections Research Center and honored Lew and Janet Klein at an April 10 ceremony. Lew Klein, an adjunct professor in Temple’s School of Communications and Theater for 59 years, is chair of the school’s Board of Visitors.

“Primary sources are a true learning tool within a university,” said Provost Richard Englert. “It is the raw material upon which our students and scholars shape their discoveries.”

The material has been in the Klein’s house for years, in cartons in the basement, in drawers and in files marked “etc.” The papers consist of photographs, newspaper articles, pamphlets, letters, scrapbooks, brochures, videos, periodicals and other recorded and printed materials.

“Lew always felt that the papers… of his activities were souvenirs that he wanted to keep,” Janet Klein said.

In total, Lew Klein said that 23 cartons have been donated. “Janet tells me that we have lots more at home, so we’ll be adding to the collection.”

At the ceremony, he spoke briefly about his early days in the television industry, when there were only 3,000 television sets in Philadelphia. One of his first jobs was to produce a commercial for Dutch Boy paint with marionettes, a job that paid $5 a week.

(L-R): Lew and Janet Klein with Carol Lang, interim dean of University Libraries. (photo by Ryan S. Brandenberg/Temple University)

“We’re honored that Lew and Janet have entrusted their legacy to Temple,” said Carol Lang, interim dean of University Libraries. “The materials are a great complement to Temple’s strengths in documenting the cultural, social, economic and physical development of our region.”

Lew Klein has made an indelible mark on the television industry. In the 1950s, as programming director for the six Triangle Group stations, Klein served as executive producer of the landmark program “American Bandstand” at WFIL-TV. In 1970, he co-founded Gateway Communications, which owned four TV stations, and served as Gateway’s president from 1983 to 1993.

Klein is respected by the Temple community and media professionals for his ability to motivate and inspire those around him. Many of the careers of top television professionals across the country have been launched by his wise mentorship.