We present a selection of very well time-sampled optical light curves and
spectra of type Ib and Ic supernovae (SNe) from the CfA database, taken
with the F. L. Whipple Observatory telescopes and with the Magellan Clay
Telescope. The data begin as early as two weeks before maximum light and go
to late times, when the supernovae enter the nebular phase (several months
after maximum to one year). We discuss general properties of this
population of core-collapse supernovae, including their luminosity
distribution, light-curve shapes, and any photometric and spectroscopic
relationships. We present implications for the progenitor make-up and SN
explosion, including data and the theoretical interpretation of SN
2005bf, a unique Type Ib/c SN.This work has been supported in part by the National Science Foundation.