Frank Lanterman papers
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Scope and Content
The Frank Lanterman papers, 1955-1978 (bulk 1965-1978), is a collection that consists of a part of the legislative files created by Frank Lanterman, a Southern Californian who served in the California State Assembly from 1951-1978. The collection includes correspondence, legislation, reports, and speeches. Reflecting Lanterman's strong interest in mental health issues and documenting his concern for the mentally ill, over 60 per cent of the files in the collection fall within the series titled Mental Health. Subseries within include such topics as community care, electroshock, conservatorship, probate and guardianship, criminal offenders, minors, patients' rights, and state hospitals. As might be expected, a number of files are devoted to the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, legislation that Lanterman co-authored with California State Senators Nicholas Petris and Alan Short. This act, which the Assembly passed in 1967 and which became fully implemented in 1972, focused on the issue of the involuntary civil commitment of individuals to mental health institutions in California. With its passage, the Act is credited with setting the standard for commitment procedures across the nation. Files on other legislative topics important to Lanterman are included in the collection as well. Among these are files on governmental affairs, public works, revenue and taxation, schools, and water resources.
Dates
- Creation: 1955 - 1978
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1965 - 1978
Creator
- Lanterman, Frank (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE. Advance notice required for access.
Conditions Governing Use
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Biography
Frank Lanterman was born November 4, 1901, in Los Angeles, California, into a family whose arrival in the city dated back to 1875. He studied music at the University of Southern California's (USC) School of Music but did not graduate. He tried to make a career in the movie industry playing musical accompaniment to silent movies. But the family business required his attention, and he turned to managing their landholdings.
Although a successful businessman, Lanterman entered politics because of a legal dispute over water rights. Elected to the California State Assembly at the age of 49, Lanterman served fourteen consecutive two-year terms (1951-1978) representing first, the 48th Assembly District, which became the 47th Assembly District, and finally redrawn as the 42nd Assembly District. He was a member of the Republican Party throughout his legislative career, and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in both 1964 and 1968.
The Assemblyman's first notable legislative contribution was to co-author the Municipal Water District Act (1951). With this legislation, the Foothill Municipal Water District was created to service the communities of La Canada, La Crescenta, and Altadena in Southern California.
Lanterman was best known for his co-authorship of the Lanterman-Petris-Short Act, with Nicholas Petris and Alan Short, both members of the California State Senate. This act, which the Assembly passed in 1967 and which became fully implemented in 1972, focused on the issue of the involuntary civil commitment of individuals to mental health institutions in California. With its passage, the Act is credited with setting the standard for commitment procedures across the nation.
During his legislative career, he authored or co-authored almost 400 bills. He served as chairman of the Assembly's Ways & Means Committee from 1969-1970. He was known as California's "Father of Mental Health," a tribute to his long service in the California State Assembly as champion for the state's mentally ill community.
In recognition of his contributions to the mental health community, the Assemblyman’s name is associated with the Frank D. Lanterman High School in Los Angeles, a special education placement high school; the Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center in Los Angeles, a private non-profit corporation that serves those with developmental disabilities; and the Lanterman Developmental Center in Pomona, which is operated by the California Department of Developmental Services. In addition, a portion of State Route 2 is called the Frank D. Lanterman Freeway in his honor. Also, he received a honorary Doctor of Laws degree from USC in 1973.
Lanterman passed away in April 1981.
Extent
31 Linear Feet (31 banker's boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Frank Lanterman papers, 1955-1978 (bulk 1965-1978), represent a part of the legislative career of Frank Lanterman, who served in the California State Assembly from 1951 to 1978. Lanterman, who was responsible for almost 400 bills during his 28-year career, was known as California's "Father of Mental Health," a tribute to his long service as champion for the state's mentally ill community.
Organization
The collection is organized into the following series:
1) Air Pollution
2) Alcoholism
3) Boards
4) Business and Professional Healing Acts
5) Civil Law
6) Conflict of Interest
7) Constitutional Revision
8) Earthquakes
9) Elections
10) Government
11) Health & Welfare
12) Highways
13) Judicial
14) Labor
15) Public Works
16) Medi-Cal
17) Motor Vehicles
18) Noise
19) Penal Code
20) Public Records
21) Public Utilities
22) Rapid Transit
23) Retirement
24) Revenue and Taxation
25) Schools
26) Special Classes (Schools)
27) Higher Education
28) Transportation
29) Veterans
30) Water
31) Mental Health
Acquisition
The date of acquisition is unknown. But judging from available correspondence, the materials were located at USC as early as 1979.
Inventories
A preliminary inventory for the collection was created in August 1986 by Lana Beckett. In August 1990 Dace Taube, currently Regional History Librarian, updated the inventory. This latter inventory was used as a basis for the current inventory, which was created by Michael Hooks and assisted by students Ajay Govada, Libet Chang Stanhope, and Carly Rustebakke.
Subject
- Lanterman, Frank -- Archives (Person)
- California. Legislature. Assembly -- Archives (Organization)
Geographic
Topical
- Air -- Pollution -- California -- Archival resources
- Alcohol -- Law and legislation -- California -- Archival resources
- Education, Higher -- California -- Archival resources
- Educational law and legislation -- California -- Archival resources
- Labor laws and legislation -- California -- Archival resources
- Mental health laws -- California -- Archival resources
- Mental health services -- California -- Archival resources
- Motor vehicles -- California -- Archival resources
- Noise control -- Law and legislation -- California -- Archival resources
- Politicians -- California -- Archival resources
- Public works -- California -- Archival resources
- Speeches, addresses, etc., American -- 20th century -- Archival resources
- Taxation -- Law and legislation -- California -- Archival resources
- Transportation -- California -- 20th century -- Archival resources
- Transportation -- Law and legislation -- California -- Archival resources
- Water resources development -- California -- Archival resources
- Title
- Finding aid for the Frank Lanterman papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Michael Hooks, Ajay Govada, Carly Rustebakke, and Libet Chang Stanhope
- Date
- 2013 September
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the USC Libraries Special Collections Repository
Doheny Memorial Library 206
3550 Trousdale Parkway
Los Angeles California 90089-0189 United States
specol@usc.edu