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.

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.

2.57 Cubic Feet (2 boxes)

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.

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