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.