Museum Asks Community for Help
Documenting Tragic Shooting

As curator and repository for Ventura County’s history, the Museum of Ventura County is reaching out for community help to document personal experiences and stories of the shooting of 12 people at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks on Nov. 7, 2018. The museum has launched “rapid response collecting” to secure donations of photographs, links to video, artifacts, stories and other elements related to this tragic event.

"Rapid response collecting” is a term used by museums across the country, including those in Orlando and Las Vegas, in response to events such as mass shootings. The Museum of Ventura County is working with Pamela Schwartz, chief curator of the Orange County, Florida, Regional History Center, who led the documentation efforts for the Pulse Nightclub shooting in 2016. She will actively guide gathering photos, artifacts, documents and more that tell the stories of the Borderline shooting and that honors its victims and survivors.

The public can send submissions of photographs, links to video, and stories to the Museum via email at submissions@venturamuseum.org or can arrange to submit other formats by contacting Curator of Collections Anna Bermudez at abermudez@venturamuseum.org.

Museum Asks Community for Help
Documenting Hill, Woolsey Fires

The Museum of Ventura County is coordinating with Ventura County fire and sheriff departments, other agencies and most importantly the Ventura County public to create an historical archive of the devastating Hill and Woolsey fires. Throughout the next few months, the Museum will be gathering stories and digital images as well as physical artifacts to assemble the historical record of the extraordinary rescues, bravery, sacrifice and service of fire fighters, law enforcement personnel and other first responders who battled—and continue to battle—the raging fires in Ventura County, as well as those who reacted to the crisis with steadfast calm and opened their hearts and hands to help those in need. The Museum invites the public’s participation and encourages those with a story to tell or a tribute or thank you to share, to submit their stories and digital images to help document our common experience.

"Documentation of the extensive impacts of these fires on Ventura and Los Angeles counties has taken immediate precedence over our regular museum programs and activities,” said Denise Sindelar, programs director, Museum of Ventura County. “In providing a repository for the images, videos, artifacts and stories of this devastating event, the Museum will be creating access to this vital information for future generations."

The public can send submissions of photographs, links to video, and stories to the Museum via email at submissions@venturamuseum.org or can arrange to submit other formats by contacting Curator of Collections Anna Bermudez at abermudez@venturamuseum.org.

The Museum of Ventura County is pleased to announce that copies of the Journal of Ventura County's newest edition, "The Remarkable Life of Lorenzo Dow Chillson", are now available for sale in the Museum’s store. The Journal was made possible by a generous donation from Charles J. Rennie, III, of Rancho Palos Verdes, California. Dr. Rennie’s donation was made with the following dedication: "In memory of Frank Boross, whose expert oversight of the printing of this publication for 28 years contributed greatly to its quality." The Museum is grateful to Dr. Rennie for his donation. The Museum also wishes to acknowledge the longtime support of Mr. Boross, whose expertise will indeed be greatly missed, as will his friendship.