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# Research Library
## The library provides support to researchers at all levels interested in deepening their understanding of Ventura County's historic, cultural, and artistic heritage. The library is open to the public and entrance is free.
San Buenaventura Mission by Henry Chapman Ford
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## LIBRARY INFORMATION
### The Research Library is open to the public free of charge.
**Contact the Acting Lead Librarian:**
Hannah Rogers, MLIS
805.653.0323 x 320
library@venturamuseum.org
### **The Library and Archives Collection**
The Library and Archives houses a vast collection of resources pertaining to the history of Ventura County and its outlying regions. The collection spans the Chumash Indians, the Mission and Rancho periods, early settlement, commercialization, industrialization, to present times. For online access to finding aids for the Library and Archives collections, .
### Blog
The Museum has launched several blog efforts, including , which is a volunteer and staff collaboration that showcases the stories of our community. The blog features stories and resources available in the Library and Archives Collection.
### **Donations**
The Museum Library accepts donations of books, periodicals, documents, and photographs that fall within our collecting priorities and guidelines. The library also accepts monetary donations in support of its mission to preserve and make accessible the history of Ventura County. .
***Please note: Currently, all acquisitions are on hiatus. Please contact staff for more information.***
### Museum Docents and Volunteers
Library projects are achieved through the generous efforts of the many docents and volunteers who contribute invaluable time and expertise toward making Library materials accessible to the public.
### Staff
Deya Terrafranca, MLIS
**Research Library and Archives Director**
805.653.0323 Ext. 320
dterrafranca@venturamuseum.org
Marcia Stock, MLIS
**Cataloger Archivist**805.653.0323 Ext. 321
mstock@venturamuseum.org
Krystell Jimenez, MLIS
**Archivist**805.653.0323 Ext.321
kjimenez@venturamuseum.org
### ****Collections Overview:****
* Monographs, biographies, city and county directories, census records, voter indexes, court records, Assessor rolls, and property records
* Manuscript archives, including personal papers and collections of individuals and families from around the county, as well as records developed by local government, corporations, clubs and organizations
* County newspapers, with 13 titles depicting the history of the county, outlying regions, and evolution of the region’s newspaper industry since 1851:
  + Ventura Star-Free Press Image Collection · 1958–1981
  + Santa Paula Chronicle · 1888–1992
  + Santa Paula Review · 1928–1949
  + Santa Paula Times · 1993–2003
  + Moorpark Enterprise · December 30, 1915 – December 29, 1955
  + Oxnard Press Courier · January 7, 1899 – October 22, 1992
  + Santa Barbara Weekly Press · July 1869 – November 1873
  + Ventura Independent · April 16, 1896 – July 1903
  + Ventura Free Press · weekly, November 14, 1875 – December 1921
  + Ventura Free Press · daily, December 1, 1890 – June 27, 1891
  + Ventura Signal · April 22, 1871 – April 4, 1885
  + Ventura Vidette · June 4, 1889 – December 1890
  + Ventura Weekly Democrat · January 17, 1891 – December 1901
  + Los Angeles News · October 1, 1864 – May 15, 1868
  + Los Angeles Star · May 17, 1851 – December 18, 1874
* Over 100,000 image prints and negatives including daguerreotypes, cyanotypes, tintypes, albumen prints, and glass plate negatives, as well as 3,300 historical postcards and 2,300 slides
* Map types include historical plat maps, boundary maps, topographic and hydrological maps (USGS), irrigation/ditch maps, right-of way maps (railroad and highway), and land case maps (court case exhibits), among others
* Architectural drawings for residential, business, and industrial construction
* Articles of Incorporation for Ventura County businesses and other groups, from the 1870s to the present
* Over 425 oral history interviews, for which transcripts are available in the library
* Vertical files that include biographical, clipping, and ephemera files
* Indexes to the Museum’s Journal of Ventura County History, as well as other publications
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### Our Mission and Vision
The Museum of Ventura County engages participants in meaningful experiences with history, art, culture, and each other by aspiring to spark curiosity and encourage compassion to build community and connection.
### Our Purpose
To promote interest in and understanding of the history of the Ventura County region; to collect and preserve archives, artifacts, art, and ephemera bearing on the history of the region; to document current regional events; and to create exhibits and programs that enlighten, educate, and engage the past, present, and future.
### Our Partners
Major funding for the programs at the Museum of Ventura County is made possible by , , , , , , , , , , and the .
**Museum of Ventura County**
Thursday—Sunday
11am to 5pm
Phone: 805.653.0323
**Research Library at the Museum**
Appointment Only
Wednesday—Friday • 11am to 5pm
For library assistance call
805-653-0323 ext 320
or email library@venturamuseum.org
**Agriculture Museum**
Phone: 805.525.3100
**Albinger Archaeological Museum**
Saturday
Phone: 805.658.4728
Connect with the Museum through social media:
Website Development by .
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### The Agriculture Museum will be closed Monday, January 13 – Friday, February 7, 2025 while the MVC team installs the upcoming exhibition, Enfoque: Voces Indígenas Mexicanas del Condado de Ventura!
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# The Research Library At The Museum of Ventura County
## The following collections are housed at the Museum of Ventura County. The Research Library and Archives is currently undergoing a conservation and digitization project. Check back periodically as access to collections may vary over the next several years.
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The Library houses more than 7,000 volumes pertaining to the history of Ventura County and its outlying regions.
The Library collection of over 100,000 positive and negative images depicts Ventura County from 1864 to the present. Image formats include prints, daguerreotypes, cyanotypes, tintypes, albumen prints, and glass plate negatives.
The manuscript archive includes personal papers and collections of individuals and families from around the county, as well as records developed by local government, corporations, clubs, and organizations. It also includes photograph finding aids for items not yet digitized.
Map types include historical plat maps, boundary maps, topographic and hydrological maps (USGS), irrigation/ditch maps, right-of way maps (railroad and highway), and land case maps (court case exhibits).
Collection includes the works of Roy C. Wilson (1918-2007); Wilson, Stroh & Wilson; and Stroh & Fickes.
Digitized through a grant from California Revealed, the first 40 volumes of the journal are now online and searchable.
The Museum has published an historical journal since 1955. Index to issues from 1955 to 1995.
Includes complete listing of journal articles by title and year.
The Library houses tapes and transcripts of over 425 interviews with people recalling their own personal histories of Ventura County.
The Master Biographical Index is made possible through the generosity of the James Maddux Family of Camarillo. This index presently contains references to over 19,600 names.
The museum’s biographical files include clippings, ephemera, and research information related to county residents. The files are divided into two sections to include specific family folders and assorted files that may include several different families of the same last name. Files are available for perusal in the library.
The museum maintains clipping files for a variety of subjects. The listing is an alphabetical list of the subject files that are house in the library. Files are available for perusal in the library.
Topics include events, geographic and architectural locations, local government, material and societal culture, natural resources, wildlife, communication, transportation, commerce, and industry. Files are available for perusal in the library.
The Library houses many county newspapers and this index includes titles and date ranges for Museum held collections as well as others throughout the county.
## Library Information
The Research Library is open to the public free of charge. **Contact the Acting Lead Librarian:**
**Museum Docents and Volunteers**
*Library projects are achieved through the generous efforts of the many docents and volunteers
who contribute invaluable time and expertise toward making Library materials accessible to the public.*
# Voices of Ventura County
A remarkable collection of oral histories that commemorates the rich tapestry of Ventura County’s history over the past 150 years. Curated from the extensive archives from the Museum of Ventura County’s , these oral histories bring to life the diverse stories and experiences of the county’s inhabitants.
Thanks to a partnership with CAPS Media, KPPQ-LP and the County of Ventura, this invaluable selection of oral histories has been expertly digitized—ensuring its preservation and accessibility for generations to come.
From the experiences of indigenous communities to the challenges and triumphs of modern day Ventura County, these oral histories shed light on the County’s evolution. Each account reflects the unique perspectives and lived experiences of individuals who have witnessed the County’s transformation first hand. Through their voices we gain a deeper understanding of Ventura County’s cultural, social and economic development.
Voices of Ventura County stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of the county and the resilience of its people. It is a celebration of community, culture, and the power of storytelling to bridge the gap between past and present.
***Content Warning: The following oral history contains outdated language and may include terms that are considered offensive by today’s standards. Listener discretion is advised.***
 · 
100 East Main Street
Ventura, CA 93001
# MVC THEN
*MVC THEN is brought to you in part by the generous support of*
By Andy Ludlum — Even after 76 years, John Doughty’s memories as an 8-year-old in 1910 were as clear as if it were yesterday. The Simi Valley man said his mother, Annie, began crying and yelling when she first spotted Halley’s Comet. She fell to her knees and waved her arms up and down in prayer. She was certain the comet was a sign from God, “a cyclone that would burn a hole through the Earth.”
By Andy Ludlum — April 8, 1917, two days after the United States had declared war on Germany, a group of 31 men, posed in front of the Ventura Mill & Lumber Company.
By Andy Ludlum — Mary Belle Spencer of Chicago became the first woman to represent a criminal defendant in Ventura County history.
by Library Volunteer Andy Ludlum Marjery Misner was described in 1924 by The Los Angeles Times as a “pretty, young teacher.”  Near the…
by Library Volunteer Andy Ludlum When a baby was teething and wouldn’t stop crying, there’s a good chance that Ventura County parents in…
by Library Volunteer Andy Ludlum One hundred years ago a tragic mix of poor judgment, navigational errors, irregular currents, and fog cost 23…
By Library Volunteer Andy Ludlum Ventura residents were shocked in February 1921 when they read about girls rioting at the local state training…
By Library Volunteer Andy Ludlum This is the story of an early Ventura County sheep rancher. His remarkable tale has been overlooked and…
By Library Volunteer Andy Ludlum It was a stand-off worthy of the old Wild West. The taciturn lawman was face to face with…
By Library Volunteer Andy Ludlum The frail old man, known to everyone in Simi as “Grandpa Stones,” practically had to be carried over…
By Library Volunteer Andy Ludlum It was the opening day of duck season in October 1925. The last thing the hunters expected to…
By Library Volunteer Andy Ludlum When two pirate ships appeared off the California coast in November 1818, it was a moment the governor…
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