Herman Buchman papers

Description data
Resources (attachments and links)
Repository assets
Living At
Child components

id: 2729
origination: Buchman, Herman
date statement: 1939-1990
key date: 1939
identifier (local_mss): 21523
org unit: Billy Rose Theatre Division
call number: *T-Mss 1997-046
b-number: b14995350
total components: 108
total series: 4
max depth: 3
boost queries: (none)
component layout: Default Layout
Extended MARC Fields: false
Extended Navigation: false
created: 2013-04-01 15:04:33 UTC
updated: 2026-01-20 20:03:32 UTC
status note: (missing)
Display Aeon link: true

Description data TOP

physdesc: {"format"=>"simple", "value"=>"2.5 linear feet (6 boxes)"}
unitid: {"value"=>"*T-Mss 1997-046", "type"=>"local_call"}

{"value"=>"21523", "type"=>"local_mss"}
unittitle: {"value"=>"Herman Buchman papers"}
repository: {"value"=>"The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Billy Rose Theatre Division."}
abstract: {"value"=>"Herman Buchman was a makeup artist for stage and screen, as well as an educator. His papers document his career in these two fields as well as his two books on makeup."}
prefercite: {"value"=>"Herman Buchman Papers, *T-Mss 1997-046, Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts"}
origination: {"value"=>"Buchman, Herman", "type"=>"persname"}
bioghist: {"value"=>"Herman Buchman, makeup artist, author, educator, lecturer and World War II veteran, was born May 20, 1920. \"Bucky,\" as he was nicknamed, attended school in New York City and completed a course in beauty culture at Paul's Hairdressing Academy of New York in December 1939. He received a B. S. degree from Empire State College of the State University of New York (SUNY) in 1975 and was awarded a Ph. D. from the Union for Experimenting Colleges and Universities in Ohio in 1977. Originally aspiring to become a painter, he was drawn to the art of makeup as a means of rising out of the poverty of the Great Depression. In 1941, he moved to California to try to break into the film industry. He was unsuccessful and returned to New York. He was drafted and served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the 294th Combat Engineer Battalion, as part of the D-Day invasion. After the war, he came back to New York and became a charter member of Local 798-Makeup and Hair Stylists-of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE). He later served in various capacities for Local 798. Herman Buchman was makeup director on numerous Broadway productions, such as The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster, for which he transformed the African-American actor Canada Lee into a white character. Other Broadway productions include Finian's Rainbow, Jenny Kissed Me, The Bird Cage, Crime and Punishment, Silk Stockings, and Galileo. His film credits include The Joe Louis Story, Patterns, Twelve Angry Men, The Miracle Worker, Happy Anniversary, Something Wild, Edge of the City, Long Day's Journey into Night, The Incident, Born to Win, The Night They Raided Minsky's, Within Man's Power and Public Enemy Number One. He also worked as a makeup artist during the early days of television, on programs such as Playhouse 90, Studio One and the original Buck Rogers. Other television credits include game shows such as Hollywood Squares, and soap operas including All My Children, One Life to Live and Ryan's Hope. He worked, as well, for the ABC and CBS television networks on various commercial and industrial projects. For the New York City Opera, he was Director of Makeup and Wigs from 1981 to 1986. Herman Buchman wrote two books: Stage Makeup< (1971) and Film and Television Makeup (1973), both of which became standard texts in the field. He was also the author of several articles for Theatre Crafts magazine, as well as for the Encyclopedia Americana. He wrote proposals for television shows, as well as for several unpublished books, including one titled Faces of Shakespeare. He also proposed an educational film series on stage makeup. As an educator, Herman Buchman taught makeup at the American Theatre Wing from 1946 to 1953, at the Neighborhood Playhouse from 1948 to 1950, the Juilliard School of Music (Opera Division) from 1950 to 1952, and in Juilliard's Drama Division from 1974 to 1979. He also taught at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts from 1950 to 1955. He was a full professor of Theater Arts at SUNY College at Purchase from 1971 to approximately 1981. He was on the faculty of Pace University Department of Speech and Drama from 1971 to 1981, as well as at the School of Visual Arts from 1975 to 1981. At City College of New York, he was an Artist in Residence from 1979 to 1980 and served as a consultant to the New York State Department of Education. His other professional activities included acting as spokesperson for Sea Breeze Antiseptic and Albolene Cream on a nationwide lecture tour in 1972 and 1973. He lectured for the American Film Institute in 1976 and at the College of Santa Fe in 1990. In 1975, he developed a makeup kit for stage performers. He was married to Dian [sic] Dincin and they later divorced. They had one daughter, Caitlin. He retired in 1986 and moved from New York City to Santa Fe, New Mexico. He died of cancer on January 27, 1996 at the age of 75."}
custodhist: {"value"=>"The collection was donated in 1997 to the Billy Rose Theatre Division by Caitlin Kraft Buchman, the daughter of Herman Buchman."}
scopecontent: {"value"=>"The Herman Buchman papers consist of correspondence, including a few pieces of personal correspondence, personal papers, photographs, slides, color transparencies, sketches, clippings, and ephemera largely relating to his professional activities as a makeup artist, author and educator. The papers illuminate the breadth of his professional accomplishments and provide a glimpse into a backstage art through one of its most eminent practitioners. The correspondence includes letters to and from Herman Buchman, mostly concerning his two published books, Stage Makeup and Film and Television Makeup, but also includes letters on other proposed books and projects. There is very little personal correspondence. The personal papers include certificates from professional organizations such as IATSE (International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees), ephemera from other professional organizations, sketchbooks, resumes, clippings, photographs of Herman Buchman, and some unidentified personal slides and negatives. The teaching materials include photographs, slides, and a few programs from various student productions at SUNY College at Purchase, the Juilliard School of Music, The Juilliard Opera Theatre, and The Juilliard School's Drama Division. There are also some unidentified color slides of student classes which illustrate makeup technique, mostly from the 1970s. His projects form the largest part of the collection. They include photographs, photographic proofs, color transparencies, original artwork, clippings, and notes relating to his two published books. These two books became standard texts in the field. They are especially well-documented, insofar as most of the images used to illustrate them are included in the collection. Although he worked in theater, film, television, opera, and ballet, his motion picture work is best-documented. There are a number of screenplays, photographs, and slides of productions on which he worked from the 1940s to the 1970s. Some of his films are not represented in the collection. Other projects include materials on additional professional activities in which he was involved, such as lecturing, developing a stage makeup kit, proposals for books, other articles written, educational films, and two television series."}

{"value"=>"The Herman Buchman papers are arranged in four series:\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21523#c308596'>Series I: Correspondence</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>ca. 1950-1990</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>9 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'>This series contains letters mostly regarding to Herman Buchman's professional activities. The letters are arranged alphabetically and include numerous letters related to his two published books, with permission requests, publicity letters and query letters. There are also letters to and from well-known actors (especially stage actors), some letters possibly written for a proposed book titled The Faces of Shakespeare. Of particular interest are the handwritten letters and notes from Sir Ralph Richardson, whose foreword to Herman Buchman's book Stage Makeup is included. There are a number of handwritten letters from Sir Derek Jacobi and Sir Ian Richardson. Other notable correspondents include Morris Carnovsky, Claude Dauphin, Sir John Gielgud, Sir Peter Hall, Stacy Keach, Alfred Lunt, Trevor Nunn, Sir Laurence Olivier, Christopher Plummer, Eric Porter, and Parker Stevenson. There is a typed note to Mrs. Herman Buchman from Leonard Lyons.</div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21523#c308606'>Series II: Personal papers</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>ca. 1953-1983</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>10 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'>This series contains materials relating to his union activities, both as makeup professional and as a faculty member. It also includes sketchbooks and personal photographs, slides, negatives, and clippings. Included is a certificate of appreciation from IATSE, Local 798 (1953) and a membership certificate from the National Society of Literature and the Arts (1975). This series also contains ephemera such as an IATSE (Local 545) convention nametag, a pocket pen holder and pin, membership cards for New York State United Teachers, United University Professors, and some handwritten notes. Other professional materials include several resumes, probably from the 1970s and 1980s and clippings from 1950s and the 1970s. There are also two sketchbooks: one dated 1948, which consists of ink sketches and one dated 1967, which includes a note from his daughter, Caitlin, and a sketch labeled \"Harry Andrews 11/1967\" in the motion picture The Night They Raided Minsky's. Photographs, slides and negatives include images of Herman Buchman, views of Manhattan, rural scenes, and unidentified people. One humorous item is an undated certificate labeled \"The Fool Killer Award,\" from Alfred Markim, The Landau Company. It also states that Herman Buchman \"has been named a Colonel in the Mexican Militia.\"</div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21523#c308616'>Series III: Teaching material</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>ca. 1950-1990</div>\n<div class='series-extent'>9 folders</div>\n<div class='series-description'>This series contains materials such as photographs and slides of student productions, including Twelfth Night and miscellaneous productions at SUNY College at Purchase from the 1970s. There are also photographs of The Juilliard School Drama Division student productions of The Cherry Orchard, The Clandestine Marriage, The Country Wife, and The Heiress mostly from the 1970s. Other ephemera include programs and clippings from The Juilliard Opera Theatre for The Beggar's Opera, Falstaff and Fidelio from the 1950s, as well as a 1952-1953 catalog for the Juilliard School of Music. There is also a copy of a student exam and a proposed curriculum for a course on makeup. Although some slides are identified as \"American Theatre Wing Students,\" it is doubtful that this is accurate, since the slides do not seem to be of the time period (1946-1953) when Herman Buchman worked at the American Theatre Wing.</div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/the/21523#c308626'>Series IV: Projects</a></div>\n<div class='series-extent'>5.75 boxes</div>\n<div class='series-description'>This series consists of photographs, photographic proofs, contact sheets, slides, color transparencies, negatives, screenplays, a script, handwritten notes, clippings, and ephemera relating to his two published books: Stage Makeup and Film and Television Makeup, and theater, film and other productions on which he worked. There is relatively little material on his theatrical productions. This series also contains materials relating to other projects on which he worked, including lectures for the American Film Institute (1976) and for The College of Santa Fe (1990). The Sea Breeze Antiseptic/Albolene Cream lecture tour (1972-1973), for which he gave numerous interviews and appeared on several television programs, is especially well-documented. Other writings include proposals for books: Give a Makeup Party, On Stage Makeup (both 1980s), and a book on criminal justice disguise, which also included a seminar. This series also contains proposals, a script and plot ideas for two television series, The Chameleon and The Unwilling Mask (1961), as well as a proposal for an educational film series. Also included are three articles written for Theatre Crafts magazine and a transcript of a 1974 interview with Herman Buchman. The remaining materials consist of an article on makeup for the Encyclopedia Americana (1981) and an unsourced article on \"Creating the Illusions [sic] of Age.\"</div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
arrangement: {"value"=>" <ul> <li>Series I: Correspondence</li> <li>Series II: Personal Papers</li> <li> Series III: Teaching Materials</li> <li> Series IV: Projects <ul> <li> Sub-series 1 - Stage Makeup</li> <li>Sub-series 2 - Film and Television Makeup</li> <li>Sub-series 3 - Productions</li> <li>Sub-series 4 - Other Projects</li></ul></li></ul>", "supress_display"=>true}
separatedmaterial: {"value"=>"<ul> <li>Two reels of unidentified films</li></ul> <ul> <li>Certificate of Award for completion of beauty culture course at Paul's Hairdressing Academy of New York, Inc. [12/15/1939] (9 1/4 x 12 inches)</li> <li>Photograph of Herman Buchman and Canada Lee [ca. 1940s]</li> <li> Illustrations for Stage Makeup: <ul> <li>Figure 22 (p.26) - matted sketches of mouths (10 x 15 inches)</li> <li>Figure 23 (p.27) - matted sketches of eyebrows (10 x 15 inches)</li> <li>Figures 57 (p.42), 59 (p.43), 61 (p.43) - matted pen sketches of faces (15 x 20 inches)</li> <li>Figures 57, 59, 61 - matted red pen sketches of faces with overlays (15 x 20 inches)</li> <li>Figures 63 (p.44), 65 (p.44) - matted pen sketches of faces with overlays (15 x 20 inches)</li> <li>Figures 63, 65 - matted red pen sketches of faces with overlays (15 X 20 inches)</li></ul></li> <li>Illustrations for Film and Television Makeup: <ul> <li>Matted sketches of faces (p.44-45), with 1 loose sheet (15 x 20 inches)</li></ul></li></ul> <ul> <li>Production postcards (4)</li> <li> Charles I</li> <li> Volpone</li></ul> <ul> <li>2 on 1 strip</li></ul> <ul> <li>Motion picture stills (148)</li> <li>Stage production photographs</li> <li>Personalities (10)</li> <li>Unidentified (12)</li></ul> <ul> <li>2 clippings</li></ul> <ul> <li>18 volumes</li></ul>"}
accessrestrict: {"value"=>"Photocopying prohibited."}
userestrict: {"value"=>"For permission to publish, contact the Curator, Billy Rose Theatre Division."}
unitdate: {"value"=>"1939-1990", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1939/1990"}
date_inclusive_start: 1939
date_inclusive_end: 1990
acqinfo: {"accession_number"=>"THE"}

{"source"=>"Buchman, Caitlin Kraft", "method"=>"Gift", "extent"=>"2.5 o", "value"=>"Gift, Buchman, Caitlin Kraft"}
keydate: 1939
processinfo: {"value"=>"Processed by Camille Croce Dee."}
date_start: 1939
date_end: 1990

Update Collection TOP

Update from EAD XML File

Resources TOP

PDF finding aid

Current PDF finding aid: https://nyplorg-data-archives.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/collection/pdf_finding_aid/thebuchm.pdf

Herman Buchman papers

Description data TOP

Update Collection TOP

Update from EAD XML File

Resources TOP

PDF finding aid

File attachments

Links to external resources

Repository Assets

Living at NYPL Archives

Export Collection to ArchivesSpace

Child components TOP