The Frank R. LaPena Papers (1900-2013) include subject files on topics concerning Native Americans, in particular, California Indians. Topics include institutions, people, programs, laws, and events. In addition, files relating to his time teaching and participating in campus programs at Sacramento State University since the late 1960s are part of the collection. The collection is rich with records documenting Frank LaPena’s involvement with various public and community projects, organizations, and activities, among them the Alliance for California Traditional Arts, American Indian Historical Society, Atlatl, California Arts Council, California Commemorative Seals Advisory Committee, California Indian Education Association, California State Capitol Commission, California State Indian Museum, and Native American Heritage Commission. A significant portion of the collection deals with LaPena’s artistic work and philosophy, his participation in museum and art gallery exhibitions, both national and international, and his scholarly contributions to the art world and art criticism, especially as it concerns contemporary Native American art.

Frank LaPena was born on October 5, 1937 in San Francisco, California to parents of the Wintu-Nomtipom tribe of Native Americans. He was sent away to live at a federal American Indian boarding school when he was 5 years old and he stayed there until after he graduated from high school in 1956. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Chico State University in 1965 and did graduate work at San Francisco State University as well as California State University, Sacramento (CSUS), where he received his Master of Arts in Anthropology in 1978.

78.75 Linear feet (57 record cartons and 5 oversize flat boxes)

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