Joseph Thomas Budziak (Budd-Jack)

1900-1961 / Papercutters Hall of Fame

Budd-Jack cutting silhouettes with children

Joseph Thomas Budziak (c. 1900-1961) – born Calumet, Michigan. He changed his name to Budd-Jack since Polish names were not well received in the 30s. He left the Michigan Upper peninsula and joined the circus, where he met his wife when the circus was in town near her house in Detroit. Joseph’s wife, Marie Emilie Doege, was born in Saskatchewan, Canada on February 18, 1908 of German descent. They married in 1926. Together, they cut silhouettes for almost 20 years in the 1930’s and 1940’s. After they quit cutting silhouettes, they opened a framing business in Detroit. Joseph died December 8, 1961, and Mary died November 20, 1989.

silhouette ca. 1938
silhouette ca. 1930
Budd-Jack with silhouettes