Dingman family papers
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of photographs and negatives from Waldo Henry Dingman, Sr.’s photography business between 1911 and 1959. Images represent life and culture in Ventura County including portraits, weddings, and documentation of local landmarks and areas of interest. The collection also contains photographs, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, notes, meeting minutes and correspondence related to Waldo Henry Jr.’s actions during World War I and afterward as part of the Last Man’s Club.
Dates
- 1911-1986
- Majority of material found within 1912-1934
Creator
- Dingman, Waldo Henry, Sr., 1872-1955 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE: Open for research. All requests to access materials must be made in advance by contacting the Research Library staff via email: library@venturamuseum.org
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. Contact the Research Library for further information: library@venturamuseum.org.
Biographical / Historical
Waldo Henry Dingman, Sr. (1872-1955) was a prominent professional photographer in Ventura County. Born in Iowa, Dingman had photographic studios in Des Moines and Seattle before settling alternately in Ventura and Santa Paula. Waldo Henry Dingman, Jr. (1898-1986) served in the Navy during World War I. He was one of 32 young men from Ventura County who enlisted in the Navy together. The 32 men became known at the Last Man’s Club. The club’s name came from a pact the members made that the last survivor was to drink a toast to the others from an unopened bottle of wine and a bottle of Prohibition-era Near Beer donated to the club. Dingman Jr. was the last surviving member of the club.
Extent
2.57 Cubic Feet : (2 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Dingman collection consists of photographs, negatives, newspaper clippings, and other ephemera from professional photographer Waldo Henry Dingman, Sr. (1872-1955) and World War I veteran Waldo Henry Dingman, Jr. (1898-1986). Dingman Sr.'s images represent life and culture in Ventura County including portraits, weddings, and documentation of local landmarks and areas of interest. The collection also contains photographs, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, notes, meeting minutes and correspondence related to Waldo Henry Jr.’s actions during World War I and afterward as part of the Last Man’s Club, so named after a pact made between the club's 32 members during enlistment for the war.
Physical Location
Stored off-site and advance notice required for timely retrieval. Please contact the Research Library reference desk prior to your visit.
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Stephen Dingman; gift; 2007.
Processing Information
Processed by Nicholas Lawrence under the supervision of Krystell Jimenez, 2021.
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.
Creator
- Dingman, Waldo Henry, Sr., 1872-1955 (Person)
- Title
- Finding aid for Dingman collection, 1911-1986
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Rachel Hagar and Nicholas Lawrence, 2021.
- Date
- July 2021
- 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