Don Hamerman collection of performing arts photographs
Collection
0428-SCPA-HAMERMAN
Don Hamerman (b.1954) is a commercial photographer based out of Stamford, Connecticut. Hamerman was a staff photographer for Unicorn Times from 1978-1980, a monthly performing arts periodical from Washington, D.C. Known for his collection "My Found Baseballs," Hamerman’s work has been featured in publications such as Time’s “Lightbox,” NPR’s “Picture Show”, and periodicals such as New York, Elle, Smithsonian Magazine, and The Wall Street Journal.
The collection is open for research use. Materials from this collection must be used in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Special Collections Room during SCPA’s operating hours. Please contact the curator for an appointment or if you have questions related to digital access of the materials.
Copyright was not transferred to the University of Maryland with the gift of any copyrighted materials. All rights remain with the creators and rights holders. The University of Maryland Libraries is granted permission for the use in scholarly research by the Libraries’ patrons under fair use in Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act.
To inquire about duplication of materials for research or for publication, please contact SCPA’s curator.
318 Photographs
0.5 Linear Feet
The Don Hamerman collection of performing arts photography covers the period of 1978-1980. This collection primarily consists of portraits and performance photos that were published in Unicorn Times, but some were previously unpublished. Hamerman captured national touring acts, such as the Rolling Stones, Patti Smith, and Warren Zevon, as well as DC based artists the Slickee Boys, Root Boy Slim, Urban Verbs and the Seldom Scene. In addition to music-specific photography, Hamerman also photographed individuals and groups from the worlds of film, television, and theatre.
Don Hamerman (b. 1954; New York, New York) is a photographer based in Stamford, Connecticut. Hamerman’s work has been seen on book covers, billboards, and in periodicals like Time, Elle, New York, Smithsonian Magazine, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. “Found Baseballs,” Hamerman’s photo series of the decaying baseballs he routinely found while walking his dog, was described by Insider as “spectacular and weird” and earned praise from NPR’s “Picture Show” blog, among others.
Before establishing his commercial and editorial photography presence in New York City, Hamerman began his career as staff photographer under editor Richard Harrington at Unicorn Times, an independent publication covering arts and culture in the Washington, DC area during its run from 1973 through 1985. Hamerman’s tenure at Unicorn Times from 1978 to 1980 saw him photograph musicians, artists, actors, and directors. He documented performances everywhere from small clubs like Psyche Delly and the Childe Harold to larger events at places like the Capital Centre and the Lincoln Memorial.
His prints reside in numerous private and corporate collections, The Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and the Sheldon Museum at the University of Nebraska.
This collection consists of two series:
Part of the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library