Frank Staplin was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1874 and was raised in La Veta, Colorado where his Father homesteaded, ranched and mined. Frank founded several newspapers in northern New Mexico Territroy between 1892 and 1902. He was also a member of the New Mexico Territorial House of Representatives from 1899 to 1901. About 1900 he began trading in Indian goods with Bert Geer Phillips, noted Taos artist.
Moving to Farmington, New Mexico Territory in 1905, he established the Farmington Enterprise newspaper and a merchantile business in which he continued trading with the Navajo for rugs and silver jewelry.
He moved to Santa Fe in 1913 where he established the New Mexico State Record newspaper in 1914. He was also an investor in local turqoise, lead, zinc, copper, and silver mines, and later in life, in the oil business.
Mr. Staplin died in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1957.
From the guide to the Frank Staplin Collection, 1913 ca., (Cline Library. Special Collections and Archives Department)
