E. M. Sheridan papers
Scope and Contents
This collection comprises the writings, mostly in the form of unpublished manuscripts and newspaper clippings, of E. M. (Edwin M.) Sheridan. The focus of the writings is Ventura County history, including but not limited to, town histories, events, landmarks, legends, and personal histories. Also included are bound notebooks of Sheridan's historical writings in 10 volumes. Most of dated items are from the 1920s through the early 1930s. Some of this collection was compiled by Library staff in 1965.
Dates
- 1870 - 1965
Creator
- Sheridan, Edwin M., 1854-1941 (Creator, Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Advance requests can be made to Research Library staff via email.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights to the physical object belong to the Museum of Ventura County. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where the museum does not hold the copyright.
Biographical / Historical
Edwin M. Sheridan (1854-1941) was born in St. Joseph, Missouri. The Sheridan family remained there until September 1873, when the family moved to Ventura, California. Sheridan learned the printing trade in Missouri and when he moved to Ventura, he went to work for his older brother, J. J. Sheridan and W. E. Shepherd, publishers of the Ventura Signal newspaper. Sheridan, along with a younger brother and Horace Stevens, became publishers of the Ventura Signal in 1879. Sheridan continued work in newspapers and as a writer, and so became acquainted with many early day settlers of Ventura County. In 1913, Sheridan took charge of the Pioneer Museum (the first name of many various names for the Museum of Ventura County over the years) in its infancy and spent the next 22 years as the museum's curator. Sheridan retired in 1928, but not before leaving behind historical notes on the history of Ventura County, newspaper articles on various topics related to the county, and unpublished manuscripts.
Extent
7.93 Cubic Feet (7 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
E. M. (Edwin M.) Sheridan (1854-1941) came to Ventura, California in 1873. Sheridan worked in newspapers and became one of the publishers of the Ventura Signal in 1879. Through his work, he became well acquainted with many early day settlers in Ventura County. In 1913, Sheridan took charge of the Pioneer Museum, presently known as the Museum of Ventura County, and spent 22 years as the Museum’s curator. This collection comprises Sheridan’s writings, mostly in the form of unpublished manuscripts and newspaper clippings. Topics mainly cover Ventura County history, and include town histories, events, landmarks, legends, and personal histories.
Arrangement
Original order of materials has been maintained, however some of the materials may have been compiled by Library staff rather than the creator.
Physical Location
COLLECTION STORED ON-SITE: Stored at the MVC Research Library. Requests do not have to be made in advance, but researchers MUST make a research appointment on the Research Library website.
Processing Information
Processed by Library staff, 2011. Updated by Marcia Stock, 2025.
Creator
- Sheridan, Edwin M., 1854-1941 (Creator, Person)
- Title
- Finding aid for E. M. Sheridan papers, 1870-1965
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Library staff and updated by Marcia Stock, 2025.
- Date
- 2011
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Sponsor
- This finding aid was made possible in part through funding from the County of Ventura and the Heritage Fund at the Ventura County Community Foundation.
Revision Statements
- 2025-05: Updated to be DACS-compliant and to change from series level to folder level description. Additions were made to collection of backlogged items.
Repository Details
Part of the Museum of Ventura County Repository