Kermit the Frog

This 1970 Kermit the Frog puppet created by Jim Henson can be seen in the  Smithsonian American History Museum in Washington, DC.

"Educators foresaw television's potential as an instructional tool as early as the 1930s, but the Public Broadcasting Act was not passed until 1967. Sesame Street debuted on PBS in 1969, with Kermit as the lead Muppet. The show has been heralded for its success in combining education with entertainment, and teaching everything from the alphabet to social tolerance, as in Kermit's hit  song, 'It's Not Easy Being Green.'" -- Smithsonian Museum of American History

 "Henson first introduced his Muppets on the local television show Sam and Friends in 1955. The original Kermit was made from a coat discarded by Henson's mother." -- Smithsonian Museum of American History

A version of Kermit described as a “puppet doll or similar article”  was patented by Henson in 1959 (USD186119S).