MS 243 - James Bama Collection | McCracken Research Library

James Bama is a prominent illustrator and artist of the American West.  He was one of the best known magazine and book illustrators in the country, with many Doc Savage book covers as examples of his work.  After nearly 22 years as an illustrator in New York City, Bama moved to Wyoming in 1968.  This collection comes from his studio and includes correspondence, research articles, photographs, negatives, gallery catalogs, magazines and books containing Bama’s illustrations.

Bama, James

James Elliott Bama (April 28, 1926 – Present), James was born to Benjamin Bama and Selma Sarah Abrams Bama in Washington Heights of New York City in 1926.

James’ father Benjamin Bama was born in 1891 in Minsk, Russia.  Benjamin emigrated to the U.S. in 1905 and worked as a salesman.  Benjamin married Selma Sarah Abrams on June 25, 1922 and became a naturalized citizen in 1924.  Benjamin passed away unexpectedly in October 1940, when Jim was 14 years old, and is buried in the Mount Carmel Cemetery, in Glendale, Queens County, New York.

James’ mother Selma or Sarah Abrams Bama was born in New York in 1896 or 1897.  She worked as a sales lady prior to her marriage, at which point she became a home maker.  Selma passed away on November 17, 1944, when Jim was 18 years old, and is buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery, in Glendale, Queens County, New York.

James developed a love of art early in his life.  He graduated from the New York City High School of Music and Arts in May 1944.  He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on June 13, 1944 at Fort Dix, New Jersey.  While in the Army Air Corps he worked as a mechanic, mural painter, and physical training instructor.  After the war he then attended the Art Students League for three years.  Starting in 1951 he worked as an illustrator at New York’s Charles E. Cooper Studios for 15 years.  In Jim’s 22 year career as a commercial artist and illustrator he produced works for paperback book covers, movie posters, illustrations, and model kit boxes.  He also worked as an illustrator for the New York Giants football team, the Baseball Hall of Fame and the Football Hall of Fame, and the U.S. Air Force.

In 1964 James married Lynne Klepfer, an Art Historian with a degree from New York University.  In 1966 the couple visited friends in the West, and in 1968 moved to Wapiti, Wyoming just outside of Cody.  James began painting contemporary Western subjects during this time, and quit illustration as a profession in 1971.  It was also at this time that he began fine art painting in earnest, and began selling his works through the Coe Kerr Gallery in New York.