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Frampton (Mary) Papers
0170
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Pepperdine University. Special Collections and University Archives.
Title: Mary Frampton Papers
Identifier/Call Number: 0170
Physical Description:
5.2 Linear Feet
(7 Hollinger Boxes, 2 large flat boxes)
Date (bulk): 1930-2007
Abstract: Mary Frampton was an award winning photographer who worked for the
Los Angeles Times for over thirty years, starting in 1956 as one of the first female staff photographers. Later in life, Frampton became deeply
involved with environmental activism in her hometown of Malibu, California, founding the Save Our Coast organization to campaign
for environmental causes. This collection contains photographs, newspaper clippings, correspondence, and other materials documenting
Mary Frampton's personal life, her professional career as a photographer, and her work with Save Our Coast.
Physical Location: Payson 260 Row 3
Language of Material:
English
.
Advance notice required for access.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was transferred to Pepperdine Libraries Special Collections and Archives from Jo Ruggles in 2018, as part of
an additional accession to the Malibu Township Council collection. It was discussed with Jo and decided that Mary Frampton's
materials should be separated and made into their own collection.
The Mary Frampton Papers are arranged into three series: 1. Personal Files; 2. Professional Files; 3. Save Our Coast.
Mary Frampton was born Mary Nogueras in New York City on September 17, 1930. Her mother, Edith Hethcock Nogueras, was an award-winning
sculptor who studied with Gutzon Borglum and designed baby dolls for Horsman Doll Company. Her father, Eugenio Nogueras, was
a journalist of Puerto Rican origin. Shortly after Mary's birth, the family moved to San Bernardino, California, where her
father became editor of
El Sol de San Bernardino, a Spanish-language newspaper.
Mary Nogueras enjoyed a happy childhood, influenced by her mother's artistic talents and her father's advocacy for racial
equality. In 1947, Mary won a national "Quiz Kids" competition for her essay about racial tolerance in America. She was also
involved in her school newspaper, yearbook, and journalism clubs, while attending middle school, high school, and San Bernardino
Valley Jr College.
After receiving her associate degree in journalism in 1950, Mary worked as a photojournalist for the local San Bernardino
Sun-Telegram. She managed to snag photographs and interviews with several early Hollywood celebrities, including Jerry Lewis,
Mitzi Gaynor, and Bob Hope. She sold several of her celebrity photographs to major national magazines, such as LIFE and Photoplay.
In 1955, Mary was hired as Assistant Director of Publicity for the newly opened Beverly Hilton Hotel and in 1956, Mary became
one of the first female staff photographers at the Los Angeles Times.
Mary worked for the L.A. Times for over thirty years, earning many accolades and awards for her photography. In 1966, Mary
won the Penney-Missouri Journalism Award for Women's Page Photographer of the Year, the first ever given in that category.
All of the runners up were men. Mary also met her husband, editor Robert Frampton, while working for the L.A. Times. They
married in 1957. Mary's many decades of work for the Times can now be found in the Los Angeles Times Photographs Collection
at the UCLA Library.
Mary retired in the mid-1980s, but she quickly put her journalism skills and connections to good use for her home of Malibu,
California, where she'd lived since 1970. Disturbed by the pollution along Malibu's coast, and particularly L.A. County's
proposal to build sewers in Malibu, Mary took action and co-founded Save Our Coast in 1987 with activist and Malibu Township
Council member Jo Ruggles. Save Our Coast led protests, funded environmental impact reports and scientific research, lobbied
Malibu politicians to take action, and raised awareness of environmental issues in local communities. In 1989, Save Our Coast
partnered with Shakey's Pizza in a city-wide contest for elementary schools. Hundreds of students submitted posters and essays
explaining why every person has a responsibility to care for our oceans. Mary also helped found Malibu Dolphin Watch, which
led to Resolution No. 92-88, declaring Malibu a "Human-Dolphin shared environment." She was also passionate in her efforts
to create a marine sanctuary off the coast of Malibu. Mary was involved in the campaign for Malibu cityhood, and served on
the City of Malibu Celebration Committee in 1991.
In 1993, the Malibu Times honored Mary Frampton with a Dolphin Award for her work with Save Our Coast, and in 2004, the City
of Malibu nominated Mary for L.A. County's Older American Recognition Day. Mary passed away from natural causes in 2007, leaving
behind a legacy of unique photography and environmental advocacy.
[Box/folder# or item name], Mary Frampton Papers, Collection no. 0170, Malibu Historical Collection, Special Collections and
University Archives, University Libraries, Pepperdine University.
This collection was arranged and described by Reilly Saint Amand, June 2019.
This collection contains materials from the life and work of Mary Nogueras Frampton, photographer and Malibu environmental
activist. Materials related to Mary's personal life include correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, yearbooks, memorabilia
from Mary's travels, items from Mary's memorial service, and items related to Mary's parents and husband. Materials from Mary's
professional life include photographs and negatives, press passes, newspaper clippings, awards and honors, and issues of the
L.A. Times internal employee newspaper. Materials related to the Save Our Coast organization include posters and artwork, environmental
reports, correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, and official City of Malibu documentation.
Copyright restrictions may apply.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Articles
Campaigns
Clippings
Correspondence
Ephemera
Environmental activism in Los Angeles
Malibu (Calif.) -- History -- 20th century
Newspapers
Photographs
Photography -- Negatives
Women -- California -- History