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.