Irene Haupt, a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo, has been documenting the Buffalo arts scene through her photography since 1976. During that time she has worked for, or with, some of the most notable institutions in Buffalo, including the Irish Classical Theatre, Studio Arena Theater, the Kavinoky Theatre, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Theatre of Youth, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, and the State University of New York at Buffalo. In addition to her specialty of theater photography, Irene Haupt has also devoted much of her career to the photography of musicians and musical events.

Most notable is her documentation of the contemporary music scene in Buffalo, including coverage of the University at Buffalo's June in Buffalo festival of new music, 1982-1987, and 2000 to the present. Over the course of those years, she has created a visual record that contains images of some of the most significant composers and performers of the last quarter century. The list of composers includes Larry Austin, Milton Babbitt, Henry Brant, John Cage, Elliott Carter, Aaron Copland, Jacob Druckman, David Felder, Morton Feldman, Lejaren Hiller, Lukas Foss, Ernst Krenek, Otto Luening, Conlon Nancarrow, Pauline Oliveros, Steve Reich, Poul Ruders, Ralph Shapey, Leo Smit, Virgil Thomson, Nils Vigeland, and Charles Wuorinen. The performers include Ursula Oppens, Yvar Mikhashoff, Frances-Marie Uitti, Jan Williams, Diamanda Galas, Miles Anderson, Leroy Jenkins, Malcolm Goldstein, and Carol Plantamura.

The collection of Irene Haupt Photographs of Musicians in Buffalo contains 193 photographs. The collection was compiled from photographs purchased from Irene Haupt as well as photographs that were donated to the Music Library by various musicians or institutions. Her photographs of the June in Buffalo festival of contemporary music are also available in the UBdigit project.

Complete details about the collection can be found in the finding aid for the collection.