The John Chapman papers comprises a mix of materials pertaining to independent filmmaker John Chapman (1946-1983). Materials include film footage, photographs and slides taken on location in Central America, dating from roughly 1978 to 1983.

John Chapman was born in Santa Monica, California in 1946 to a working class family. After graduating high school, he enrolled in Santa Barbara City College, majoring in education and becoming involved in various local non-profit organizations. He eventually became a full time teacher at Santa Barbara Jr. High, and taught demonstration classes at University of California at Santa Cruz. Adept at organization of anti-war movements, Chapman travelled to Central America, which informed his later independent film career documenting social strife and civil wars. Before his focus on film as a career, Chapman worked in numerous environmental causes and served as the Executive Director of the Energy Reform Group, which raised funds for a conference on Energy for the City of Santa Barbara and Santa Barbara Adult Education. He also assisted in production of the film Apocalypse Now, working as an extra, double, assistant casting director, and assistant director on second unit and post production. Chapman collaborated with Joan Baez and PBS to produce "There But For Fortune: Joan Baez in Latin America," and became a director of photography for Pan American Films and CBS News.

17.83 linear feet (3 half-size document boxes, plus 62 films and 17 videocassettes)

Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Research Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Research Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Research Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.

The collection is open for research.