Ventura Post Office collection, circa 1936-1977 MVC089
Finding aid prepared by Krystell Jimenez, 2023.
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.
Museum of Ventura County
September 2023
100 East Main Street
Ventura, CA 93001
Business Number: (805) 653-0323 (Extension: 320)
library@venturamuseum.org
Contributing Institution:
Museum of Ventura County
Title: Ventura Post Office collection
Identifier/Call Number: MVC089
Physical Description:
1.28 Cubic Feet
(1 box and 1 folder)
Date (inclusive): circa 1936 - 1977
Abstract: The Ventura Post Office collection is a set of materials that document the history of the Ventura Post Office building on
Santa Clara Street since 1936. The current building was constructed in 1936 and expanded in 1966. Materials in this collection
include newspaper clippings, certificates, memos, correspondence, a newsletter, employee rosters, architectural drafts, photographs,
contracts with architectural firms, and reports. The materials are all related to the history and development of the Santa
Clara Street building.
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.
Language of Material:
English
.
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. Contact the Research Library for further information: library@venturamuseum.org.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Ventura Post Office collection, (Collection MVC089), Museum of Ventura County, Research Library,
Ventura, California.
Processing Information
Processed by Krystell Jimenez, 2023.
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.
Biographical / Historical
The current Ventura Post Office on the corner of Santa Clara and Fir Street was constructed in 1936. Prior to that, the post
office was located at 377 East Main Street. In 1966 the post office completed a refurbishment and expansion project and inaugurated
the new building on June 4. The building site was tripled in size to 18,700 square feet and over 20,000 square feet of a paved
parking lot for mail trucks. The downtown post office also features a more than 100-foot mural that was painted by Gordon
Grant as part of the Works Progress Administration's Federal Art Project in 1936-1937. The mural is oil and canvas and titled
"Agriculture and Industries of Ventura". It depicts a dairy farm, field workers picking and packing citrus, horses, and oil
field workers.
When the building was refurbished and expanded in 1966, artist Franz A. Trevors was hired to restore the mural. He told the
Star-Free Press in 1966 that the mural had been damaged by the construction and sections of it had been cut away to make room
for windows and bigger doorways. He restored the mural, although he had to complete sections that had been destroyed using
the original artist's style as inspiration.
Scope and Contents
This collection includes newspaper clippings, certificates, memos, correspondence, a newsletter, employee rosters, architectural
drafts, photographs, contracts with architectural firms, and reports. The materials are all related to the history and development
of the Ventura Post Office on Santa Clara Street. The newspaper clippings include articles on criticism of the post office,
Christmas-related events, general history, publicity initiatives, and events. The photographs mostly depict postal trucks
and facilities, Christmas and office parties, post office-sponsored events, construction and improvements of the Santa Clara
Street building.
The full contract includes all paperwork for the duration of the project and is labeled: Ventura, California U.S. Post Office
Contracts and Specifications Project No. 93063/01237. There are also two copies of a report titled: Report of Foundation Investigation
Proposed U.S. Post Office Addition. There were two binders and their contents have been foldered. The first was titled: Ventura,
Calif. U.S. P.O. Contract GS-09D-C-1749-SF. It contains construction progress photographs for the Santa Clara Street building.
The second binder was unlabeled and contained mostly photographs, but also included correspondence, news release, and clippings.
The postmaster certificate is for Charles S. Catlin, postmaster of Saticoy.
Organization and Arrangement
This collection has no series. Folder labels are not the original labels. Original order of materials has been maintained.
There were two binders and the materials in those binders have been foldered together.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Post office stations and branches -- California -- Ventura
Postal Service -- Ventura
Postal Service -- Employees
Box 1, Folder 1
Newspaper clippings
1963-1977
Box 1, Folder 2
Correspondence, roster, newsletter, and ephemera
1936-1975
Box 1, Folder 4-5
Photographs
circa 1960-1972
Box 1, Folder 6
Photographs: Building
1936
Box 1, Folder 7
Photographs: Building exterior and interior
undated
Box 1, Folder 8
Photographs: Architectural drawing
undated
Box 1, Folder 9
Architectural services contract
1961 August 22
Box 1, Folder 12
Report: Addition to post office
1963
Box 1, Folder 13-14
Binder: Construction progress photographs
1965 April 6 - 1966 April 1
Box 1, Folder 15-16
Binder: Photographs
circa 1936-1972
Box 1, Folder 17
Photocopies of building history
undated
Box 2
Postmaster appointment certificate
1943 April
