Despite the great volume and span of her works, it is unlikely to hear of Betty LaDuke outside of Oregon. Betty LaDuke is a world famous artist who has spent six decades of her life traveling the globe. She has spent time in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This globe trotting lifestyle is the main focus in her life. By documenting the local cultures and experiences of the people in those regions it inspired her to create beautiful artworks that she has displayed in art galleries and exhibits around the country. These works include paintings, sketches, wall art, sculptures, and wood carvings. However not all of her art pieces have always been on display, LaDuke's personal sketches and photographs have primarily been kept in archives and personal collections like the ones here at Willamette. I myself had the privilege to view some of these pieces that can be found in the donated collection of LaDuke's housed here at Willamette. Of the many items in Laduke's collection here at Willamette I found myself drawn to one of LaDuke's earliest collections, her photos and sketches of her first trip to live with the Otomi Indians, one of the native peoples of Mexico.
The photos that Betty LaDuke took can only be described as hauntingly beautiful. The collection of black and white photographs taken by LaDuke of the native Otomi Indians in 1955, during the 3 year period that she stayed in Mexico. While in Mexico for University she quickly undertook a position in a local town as a visiting artist and worked with local town leaders to create murals for the area. To gain inspiration for these murals and her art pieces LaDuke spent a great amount of time living in the town and photographing its inhabitants. These photos provide us with excellent insight into the mind of LaDuke. It shows us not only what she saw, but what she chose to look at.