Paul McPharlin
Paul McPharlin (1903–1948) was a puppeteer who created some twenty productions in Detroit between 1928 and 1937. He is remembered as a skillful performer and inventive puppet maker. He is a founding member of the Puppeteers of America.
Paul McPharlin
- Born
- 1903. · Detroit.
- Died
- 1948. · Birmingham.
- Nationality
- United States.
- Occupation
- marionetteist, painter, puppet designer, illustrator, dollmaker and writer.
- Fields
- puppetry.
- Education
- Townsend Harris High School, Columbia University, Wayne State University and University of Michigan.
- Languages
- English.
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Paul McPharlin (1903–1948) was a puppeteer who created some twenty productions in Detroit between 1928 and 1937. He is remembered as a skillful performer and inventive puppet maker. He is a founding member of the Puppeteers of America.
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Paul McPharlin (1903–1948) was an American dollmaker, illustrator and marionetteist, among other activities. Born in Detroit, the dollmaker died in Birmingham. Paul McPharlin was also known as Edgar Caper.
Paul McPharlin studied at Columbia University, Townsend Harris High School and University of Michigan, among others. The dollmaker was active in puppetry.
Languages used include English. Works by Paul McPharlin are held at Detroit Institute of Arts.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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wikidata · Q7152426 · wikipedia · Paul McPharlin
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Identity and origins
Identity and origins
In 1929, McPharlin established the Marionette Fellowship of Detroit. In 1933, he organized an important puppetry exhibit for the Century of Progress in Chicago. He was the husband and close collaborator of the puppeteer Marjorie Batchelder McPharlin. A collection of his work is on permanent display at the Detroit Institute of Art. A collection of his papers and books is at the University of New Mexico. McPharlin also had an interest in the history of books and typography, and wrote the 1942 book, Roman numerals, typographic leaves and pointing hands: some notes on their origin, history, and contemporary use, a study of the history of Roman numerals, fleurons, and manicules. He was a friend and contemporary of William Addison Dwiggins, who shared his dual interests in typography and puppetry.
Paul McPharlin studied at Townsend Harris High School, Columbia University and Wayne State University. The recorded working language is English. The field of work recorded is puppetry. Work by Paul McPharlin is recorded in the collections of Detroit Institute of Arts.
He also worked under the name Edgar Caper. His recorded language was English. He married Marjorie Batchelder McPharlin.
Identity
Identity
Paul McPharlin is recorded as marionetteist, painter, puppet designer, illustrator and dollmaker.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1903
Paul McPharlin was born in 1903 at Detroit.
1948
Paul McPharlin died in 1948 at Birmingham.
Places
Named by the record
Places
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Detroit.
Birth place
Birmingham.
Death place
Activity and practice
Paul McPharlin is recorded as having studied at Townsend Harris High School, Columbia University and Wayne State University.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Houston, Keith. Shady Characters: The Secret Life of Punctuation, Symbols, and Other Typographical Marks. W. W. Norton & Company. 2013. 9780393064421.
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Paul McPharlin studied at Townsend Harris High School, Columbia University, Wayne State University and University of Michigan.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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