Olivas San Buenaventura collection
Scope and Contents
This collection consists mainly of portraits of various families, known and unknown. 130 photos whose subject/s were identifiable were removed to be placed within the photograph collection. The unidentified photographs remain within this collection. Other documents in this collection include family records pertaining to the Bell and Browne families as well as newspaper clippings. The collection was donated by way of the City of San Buenaventura (Ventura) and given the name of the Olivas San Buenaventura collection upon receipt, but the connection between the families and the Olivas Adobe remains unclear.
The collection does not contain material related to the Olivas Adobe, although the city of Ventura was given the home and surrounding 250 acres in September 1963 as a donation from the Max C. Fleischmann Foundation. It is speculated that this collection may have been part of the historical museum operated by the city of Ventura that opened in 1972 and perhaps was used as interpretive material.
Dates
- circa 1890-1920
Creator
- Ventura (Calif.) (Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
Open for research. Advance requests can be made to Research Library staff via email.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
Property rights to the physical object belong to the Museum of Ventura County. Literary rights, including copyright, have not been determined. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and obtain permission to publish.
Biographical / Historical
This collection consists mainly of portraits of various families, known and unknown. 130 photos whose subject/s were identifiable were removed to be placed within the photograph collection. The unidentified photographs remain within this collection. Other documents in this collection include family records pertaining to the Bell and Browne families as well as newspaper clippings. Browne and Bell family photos may be found among those placed within the separate photograph collection.
One folder in this collection belonged to the family of Captain Arthur W. Browne (1853-1905) and Neotia Browne (née Rice) (1855-1932). Together they had six children: Craig (1878-1880); Albert O’Brien (1880-1923); Valeria O. (1884-1951); Samuel Harrison (1889-1946); Mary K. (1891-1971). Captain Browne served in the Spanish-American war and worked for the County of Ventura for 23 years as Supervisor and then as Auditor and Recorder. This folder contains newspaper clippings on family members and baptismal records.
Another folder in this collection pertains to the Bell family of Somis. Robert Bell (1843-1930) and Rebecca Lucretia Bell (née Rice) (1849-1928) married in 1877 and had many children, but some died at a young age. Among them were Polly Ann (1879-1960); Bertha (1885-1966); William (1887-1898); and Walter (1892-1948). This folder contains educational certificates belonging to Walter Bell, records pertaining to the Hooker-Bell Ranch, and some newspaper clippings.
Extent
0.46 Cubic Feet (1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection consists mainly of unidentified portraits along with family records pertaining to the Bell family and the Browne family. A small number of newspaper clippings are also part of the collection. Other photographs whose subjects were identifiable that came with this collection were removed to the Research Library and Archives photograph collection. The collection dates are circa 1890-1920. Although the collection came by way of the city of Ventura and was named the Olivas San Buenaventura collection upon receipt of the collection, it remains unclear what the connection between the families and the Olivas Adobe are and the collection does not include any material directly related to the Olivas Adobe.
Organization and Arrangement
Family papers and news clippings were arranged into folders. Photographs with unidentifiable or unknown subjects/s were arranged into folders. Photographs whose subject/s were identifiable were added to the Research Library and Archives photograph collection.
Physical Location
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE: Stored off-site and advance notice is required for timely retrieval. Please request materials 2-3 days in advance. Researchers MUST make a research appointment on the Research Library website. Please make a note of the box numbers or container you are requesting.
Other Finding Aids
Photographs that were separated and added to the Research Library and Archives photograph collection may be found through the Olivas San Buenaventura collection photos list.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Barbara Fosbrink, City of San Buenaventura (Ventura); gift; 1979.
Processing Information
Processed by Marcia Stock, 2025.
Our collections are processed using MPLP methods so that we can prioritize access for users and identify potential priorities for more detailed processing. If while using our collections you think there is something that should be added or amended in the finding aid, we welcome your input. You can notify staff in the reading room or send us an email at library@venturamuseum.org Be sure to include the collection number and name and the box number you were working with in your email.
- Bell family -- Records (Documents)
- Browne family -- Records (Documents)
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
- Olivas Adobe
- Portraits
Creator
- Ventura (Calif.) (Organization)
- Title
- Finding aid for for Olivas San Buenaventura collection, 1890-1920
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Marcia Stock, 2025.
- Date
- September 2025
- 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.
Repository Details
Part of the Museum of Ventura County Repository