Henry "Hank" Oscar Lampe was born in Bremen, Germany on April 8, 1927 of American parents, Henry D. and Dorothea Lampe (pronounced Lamp-ee). Lampe's mother was the "first female civilian to enter Berlin after the end of World War II to assist with diplomatic efforts" (McCaffrey). Lampe grew up in Germany and witnessed the rise of the Nazi Party and World War II. In 1941 the family moved to Arlington, Virginia and Lampe attended American University in Washington, D.C. After serving in the Navy, in 1946 Lampe returned to Germany as an employee of the U.S. Government. After returning to the U.S., Lampe married his first wife Virginia in 1953, who was also active in Virginia politics.

Employed as a government worker as well as a stockbroker, Lampe had a long record of civic activities beginning in 1964. A Republican, he was member of the Northern Virginia Regional Planning Commission and the General Assembly of Virginia, Vice Chair of the Virginia Metropolitan Areas Transportation Study Commission, a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging, a member of the Arlington Commission on Aging, Chair and President of the Northern Virginia Mental Health Association, and served on the Board of Trustees at Arlington Hospital and the George Mason University Board of Visitors. Both Henry and Virginia Lampe were active in Linwood Holton's 1965 run for Virginia governor.

Lampe was a lifelong thespian and lover of theatre. As evidenced through his collection, he continually sought out amateur acting opportunities (often alongside Virginia) and attended a wide variety of Northern Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Broadway venues throughout his life. While living in Berlin in the 1940s, he was a part of the American Little Theater Association of Berlin.

Lampe passed away in October 2012.