Judy Crichton worked in broadcast journalism for more than twenty-five years, ten of them as executive producer of American Experience, for which she supervised 100 historical documentary programs.

After her retirement from that position in 1996, she teamed with producer David Grubin on America 1900, which aired on American Experience in November 1998. She authored the companion volume, America 1900: The Turning Point, published by Henry Holt & Company.

A distinguished documentary writer, producer, and director, Crichton previously worked in radio and in the entertainment side of television. She moved into non-fiction television in the mid-1970s -- first with CBS News, where she was the first woman producer at CBS Reports, then with ABC News. Her work was recognized with every award from the broadcast industry and beyond: Emmys, Peabody Awards, Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Journalism Awards, the Writers Guild, Christophers, American Film Festival Awards, CINE Golden Eagle Awards, and a Gabriel Award, among many others.

Crichton was a member of the Society of American Historians and the Writers Guild of America, which in 1998 recognized her with the Evelyn F. Burkey Award. In 2000, President Clinton presented her with the National Humanities Medal. She lived in New York City until her death in October 2007.

One of the first women producers in network television, Judy Crichton was a pioneer in the industry. "Beyond that, she was a pioneer in her work to gain recognition for fair treatment of women and all those who were not treated equally in this world," said Peter McGhee, former WGBH Vice President of National Programming. "That passion to shine a light on those injustices characterized her life and work and influenced the shaping of American Experience," he added.

"Judy was a force in our lives, professionally and personally," said WGBH Vice President of National Programming Margaret Drain, who worked with Judy for nearly a decade. "She set the highest of standards, was one of the best 'film doctors' in the business, and she will be truly missed by all of her colleagues."