John C. Orr, born in Ventura County, is a fourth-generation lawyer and farmer. His great-grandfather, Orestes Orlando Orr, opened his law practice in downtown Ventura in 1882. In 1910 Orestes' son Harold Frank Orr joined his father's firm. In 1915 H.F. Orr recruited Erle Stanley Gardner, who would later become the author of the Perry Mason series. Their law firm, Drapeau, Orr and Gardner, was located on the third floor of the building on the corner of Main and California streets. American lawyer and author Gardner wrote his first novel The Case of the Velvet Claws while working with Orr. Gardner left the firm in the mid-1930s to write full time. This collection contains assorted materials collected by John C. Orr and his grandfather, H.F. Orr. Materials include correspondence between H.F. Orr and Gardner, as well as correspondence between Gardner and various friends and family, and ephemera that belonged to Gardner. Additional materials include legal documents and correspondence belonging to H.F. Orr.

John C. Orr, born in Ventura County, is a fourth-generation lawyer and farmer. His great-grandfather, Orestes Orlando Orr, moved to Ventura from Illinois in 1878. In 1882 he opened his law practice in downtown Ventura and was elected district attorney two years later. In 1910 his son Harold Frank Orr joined his firm. H.F. Orr would later be elected city attorney, a position he held for 35 years. In 1915 H.F. Orr recruited Erle Stanley Gardner, who later became the author of the Perry Mason series. Their law firm, Drapeau, Orr and Gardner, was located on the third floor of the building on the corner of Main and California streets.

5.13 Cubic Feet (4 boxes)

Property rights to the physical objects 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.

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.