Guide to the Ben Martin Photographs of Marcel Marceau, 1974-2023 SPEC.TRI.0129 Finding aid prepared by Casey Blackmore Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections
1858 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH, 43210
2026 April This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2026-05-13T10:47-0400 English Describing Archives: A Content Standard Ben Martin Photographs of Marcel Marceau SPEC.TRI.0129 Ohio State University Libraries Special Collections 4.188 Cubic feet 1974-2023 Ben Martin (September 16, 1930 – February 10, 2017) was a Time magazine photojournalist that covered wars, fashion, politics, arts, business, and sports. Marcel Marceau was a French actor and mime active from 1946 until his death in 2007. The Ben Martin Photographs of Marcel Marceau contains photographs shown in Martin's 2007 exhibit "Master of Mime" featuring the French performer Marcel Marceau and ephemera about Marceau as collected by Martin. Material is dated 1974-2023. (16) oversize folders; (3) oversize flat boxes; (3) legal folders; (1) costume box; (1) 5" letter document box English Martin, Ben, 1930-2017 Arrangement of Materials

The Ben Martin Photographs of Marcel Marceau is arranged into two series:

Series 1: 2007 Exhibit Materials Series 2: Research on Marcel Marceau

Acquisitions Information

Accession No. TRI.2026.0008: Kathryn Scott, 2025 October

 Preferred Citation

[identification of item], Ben Martin Photographs of Marcel Marceau, SPEC.TRI.0129, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, Ohio State University

 Access to Materials

Materials in this collection are available for use, but may be used in the Thompson Library Special Collections reading room only.

 Use of Materials

Materials in this collection may be protected by copyright, and are made available for research and educational purposes. In general, the OSU Libraries do not own the copyright for materials from our collections and cannot grant copyright permissions for these materials. The user is responsible for making a final determination of copyright status. If copyright protection applies, permission must be obtained from the copyright holder to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exceptions to the law. Works in the public domain are not protected by copyright and do not require permission to use.

 Processing Information

Processed by: Casey Blackmore, 2026 April; Finding aid written by: Casey Blackmore, 2026 April.

 Biographical Note

Ben Martin (September 16, 1930 – February 10, 2017) was a Time magazine photographer that covered wars, fashion, politics, arts, business, and sports. He was most well-known for capturing the "swinging sixties" for Time magazine's feature on London, England. He attended Ohio University, where he majored in journalism and photography.

Marcel Marceau was a French actor and mime active from 1946 until his death in 2007. He studied at Charles Dullin’s School of Dramatic Art in the Sarah Bernhardt Theatre in Paris. Marceau’s career began as part of Jean Louis Barrault’s company in France, but he performed across the world spreading “L’art du silence” (the art of silence).

 Scope and Contents

The Ben Martin Photographs of Marcel Marceau contains photographs shown in Martin's 2007 exhibit "Master of Mime" featuring the French performer Marcel Marceau. The images featured in the exhibit were created by Martin circa 1978-1979 for his book of the same title. In addition to photographs, several exhibit tags and biographical posters for Martin and Marceau are included. Also found in the collection are Martin's papers and research on Marceau, including research files, newspaper and magazine clippings, reviews, and program. Materials are dated 1974-2023.

 Marceau, Marcel Martin, Ben, 1930-2017 Black-and-white photographs Color prints (photographs) Magazines (periodicals) Mime--20th century Mime--21st century Mimes--France--20th century Mimes--France--21st century Newspaper clippings Pantomime--France--20th century Pantomime--France--21st century Photographers--North Carolina--Salisbury--20th century Photographers--North Carolina--Salisbury--21st century Photojournalists--North Carolina--Salisbury--20th century Photojournalists--North Carolina--Salisbury--21st century 2007 Exhibit Materials Series 1 2007 Scope and Contents

Series 1: 2007 Exhibit Materials contains photographs featured in Ben Martin's 2007 exhibit "Master of Mime" featuring the French performer Marcel Marceau. Images in the series are dated 2007; but were originally created circa 1978-1979 by Ben Martin. Other items in the series include exhibit tags and biographical posters for Martin and Marceau. It is not known whether the exhibit tags in the series were used to title any of the photographs present in this collection, or if they were used for other items in the exhibit that are not in this collection.

 Arrangement of Materials

Series 1: Exhibit Photographs is arranged alphabetically by a description of the individual(s) or activity found in the image or the content described on the exhibit tag. It is not known how Martin titled these photographs while on exhibit; as such, all descriptions found in this inventory were created by the repository.

 Bip, Marcel Marceau's alter ego exhibit tag 5 1 2007 The Cage exhibit tag 5 2 2007 Curated by Robert Pledge and Kathryn Leigh Scott exhibit tag 5 3 2007 Marceau (Marcel) and Anne Sicco exhibt tag 5 4 2007 Marceau (Marcel) and Anne Sicco holding flowers in black and white photograph 1 1 2007 Marceau (Marcel) and Anne Sicco in back and white standing in a field photograph 1 2 2007 Marceau (Marcel) and other individual in silhouette photograph 1 2007 Marceau (Marcel) applying makeup backstage photograph 4 1 2007 Marceau (Marcel) at home in Bercheres near Paris exhibit tag 5 5 2007 Marceau (Marcel) at home in front of balcony photograph 4 2 2007 Marceau (Marcel) at home on staircase in black and white photograph 1 3 2007 Marceau (Marcel) at home on couch photograph 2 2007 Marceau (Marcel) at home with wife Anne Sicco and children photograph 3 2007 Marceau (Marcel) biographical poster with photographs 5 2007 Marceau (Marcel) black and white close up miming photograph 1 4 2007 Marceau (Marcel) black and white close up miming with hands and smiling photograph 1 5 2007 Marceau (Marcel) black and white close up miming with hands photograph 1 6 2007 Marceau (Marcel) black and white close up on stage in white costume photograph 1 7 2007 Marceau (Marcel) black and white close up performing on stage photograph 1 8 2007 Marceau (Marcel) black and white close up performing on stage with hand up photograph 1 9 2007 Marceau (Marcel) black and white close up portrait photograph 6 2007 Marceau (Marcel) black and white close up smiling at camera photograph 2 1 2007 Marceau (Marcel) black and white close up with eyes closed photograph 2 2 2007 Marceau (Marcel) black and white close up with hands miming photograph 2 3 2007 Marceau (Marcel) black and white portrait with eiffel tower in background photograph 7 2007 Marceau (Marcel) close up on stage in costume and makeup photograph 8 2007 Marceau (Marcel) four portraits with top hat photograph 9 2007 Marceau (Marcel) in black and white backstage applying eye makeup photograph 2 4 2007 Marceau (Marcel) in black and white backstage applying lip makeup photograph 2 5 2007 Marceau (Marcel) in black and white backstage in costume talking with individuals photograph 2 6 2007 Marceau (Marcel) in black and white backstage standing with curtain behind him photograph 2 7 2007 Marceau (Marcel) in black and white backstage talking with a child in foreground photograph 2 8 2007 Marceau (Marcel) black and white close up in white costume photograph 3 1 2007 Marceau (Marcel) black and white close up with eyes closed photograph 3 2 2007 Marceau (Marcel) in black and white in long sleeved white shirt onstage photograph 3 3 2007 Marceau (Marcel) in black and white in white costume with both hands up covering eyes photograph 3 4 2007 Marceau (Marcel) in black and white in white costume with holding both arms up photograph 3 5 2007 Marceau (Marcel) in black and white miming with hands at neck photograph 3 6 2007 Marceau (Marcel) in black and white side profile photograph 3 7 2007 Marceau (Marcel) in black and white with Anne Sicco embracing him photograph 3 8 2007 Marceau (Marcel) in costume and top hat photograph 10 2007 Marceau (Marcel) in costume, leaning on air photograph 11 2007 Marceau (Marcel) in home painting studio photograph 4 3 2007 Marceau (Marcel) in white costume gesturing with hands photograph 4 4 2007 Marceau (Marcel) in white costume kneeling on ground photograph 4 5 2007 Marceau (Marcel) in white costume, leaning back and gesturing photograph 12 2007 Marceau (Marcel) on far stage, far right, with camera set up photograph 13 2007 Marceau (Marcel) on stage gesturing with hands photograph 4 6 2007 Marceau (Marcel) on stage with top hat on ground photograph 4 7 2007 Marceau (Marcel) onstage with crowd in background in black and white photograph 4 8 2007 Marceau (Marcel) onstage with red background photograph 14 2007 Marceau (Marcel) six portraits miming while in costume photograph 15 2007 Marceau (Marcel) with Alain Mangel...exhibit tag 5 6 2007 Marceau (Marcel) and Anne Sicco...exhibit tag 5 7 2007 Marceau (Marcel) with Anne Sicco with field in background photograph 4 9 2007 Marceau (Marcel) with his wife Anne and daughter photograph 4 10 2007 Martin (Ben) biography plaque for exhibit 16 2007 Martin (Ben) biography poster with photographs 4 2007 The Mask Maker exhibit tag 5 8 2007 Unknown group of individuals back stage black and white photograph 3 10 2007 Research on Marcel Marceau Series 2 1974-2023 Scope and Contents

Series 2: Research on Marcel Marceau contains materials pertaining to Ben Martin's research into the life and work of Marcel Marceau. Items in the series include newspaper clippings; performance reviews, programs, a research file, and magazines.

 Arrangement of Materials

Series 2: Research on Marcel Marceau is arranged chronologically by date of creation.

 La Campagnie de Mime Marcel Marceau booklet TRI Shared 7 1 1974 Ronald A. Wilford presents Marcel Marceau and his Partner Pierre Verry booklet TRI Shared 7 2 1976 Theater programs 5 9 1977-1978 June Ronald A. Wilford presents Marcel Marceau and his Partner Pierre Verry booklet TRI Shared 7 3 1978 Marceau (Marcel) articles 5 10 1978 February, 2003 "Master of Mime" book reviews 5 11 1978 April - 1979 December The Photographer magazine 5 12 1978 May Page proofs for Selected Lithographs by Marcel Marceau 5 13 1988 July 26 Martin (Ben) at exhibit photograph 5 14 1996 January 17 Marceau (Marcel) research file 5 15 2000 - 2007 "Marcel Marceau at the Geffen Playhouse" program 5 16 2002 July - August Marceau (Marcel) performance reviews 5 17 2002 August Performing Arts magazine 5 18 2002 August Salisbury Post article 4 11 2007 September 26 Histoire de Mavie book 5 19 2023 May 5