Historic Dudley House
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SAN BUENAVENTURA HERITAGE, INC. For the Dudley House Museum P. O. Box 6803 Ventura, CA 93006-6803
Introducing the DUDLEY HOUSE SPEAKER'S BUREAU
The following talks are offered free of charge although donations of any amount are very gratefully accepted. Our historic house museum, open the first Sunday of the month and for group tours by appointment, is managed by the nonprofit San Buenaventura Heritage, Inc. The Dudley House has no paid staff and receives no financial support from the city of Ventura.
VENTURA'S LEGEND & LORE. What do a pirate, a tidal wave and rum-runners have in common? They are all part of Ventura's fascinating past and will be revealed during this intriguing talk by local historian Glenda Jackson. Her book, "Postcard History Series: Ventura" was an instant hit when it came out in December 2005 and her next book, "City of Good Fortune," promises to be equally popular. Contact: Glenda Jackson at 805/642-2202.
TOYS & GAMES: A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE. Do you know what "to knuckle down" really means? Ever had great expectations when opening a brand new box of Crayola crayons and breathing in that delicious smell? Do you remember when most toys were homemade? Listen to the stories behind some of the most beloved toys and games of the nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century and take some time to play again. Contact: Beth Miller at 805/386-4417 or e-mail at HistoryLongAgo@aol.com
PUTTING HISTORY IN THE MYSTERY. After many years as a freelance writer and publishing over 100 articles, Lynn Weitzel began writing audience-participation mystery plays as a fundraiser for the Dudley House. Now, eight plays later, Lynn will talk about the true local murders which have inspired her plays and how she goes about putting history in the mystery. Contact: Lynn Weitzel at 805/641-3563 or e-mail at nlweitzel@mindspring.com
STORIES FROM A WORLD WAR II NAZI OCCUPATION SURVIVOR. Many people don't realize that the Jews weren't the only group who suffered terribly under the Nazis. In Holland, the Nazis brutalized, starved and murdered hundreds of Dutch citizens regardless of their religious affiliation. They also opened the dykes to flood one third of the land and put hundreds of thousands of men to work in their war industry. Contact: Hilbert Bolland at 805/639-5034 or e-mail at hiloramy@juno.com Note: Hilbert can adapt this talk for high school students and church groups as well as for a general audience.
MEMOIRS OF A PIONEER FARM WIFE: A LADY OF MISCHIEF, SPUNK & HARD WORK. Miriam Knox Dudley comes to life as she looks back—from the vantage point of the year 1929—on her turn-of-the-century childhood in Saticoy, Las Posas and Ventura. This band musician, would-be actress and lively young mother of two describes the challenges of farming while maintaining a very active social life and—to bring in extra money during the Great Depression--working from her home as a seamstress. Miriam lived 62 years of her adult life as Mrs. Oscar Dudley in the 1892 farmhouse which is now an historic house museum in Ventura. Contact: Norma Fulkerson at 805/642-2842.
ALL ABOUT AMISH QUILTS. Learn about the origins and details of the many patterns created by the Amish women centered in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Ardelle Faue, an expert weaver and quilter for 25 years, will bring along many examples from her extensive Amish quilt collection for a memorable visual experience. Contact: Ardelle Faue at 805/642-0601 or e-mail at wfaue@aol.com
VICTORIAN COURTSHIP. Glenda Jackson, local historian and author of "Postcard History Series: Ventura," will share items from her extensive collection of Victorian artifacts including love letters, tokens of affection and hair jewelry. She'll explain how Victorian love birds wore their hearts on their sleeves and wrote passionate, fire-burning (!) love letters but kept oh-so-cool in public. (A great idea for Valentine's Day programs.) Contact: Glenda Jackson at 805/642-2202.
THE DUDLEY HOUSE MUSEUM & THE DUDLEY FAMILY'S PLACE IN LOCAL HISTORY. Long-time volunteer and tour guide, Hilbert Bolland will cover the general history of the Dudley family and Benjamin Dudley's contributions to the developing city. He'll explain how the house got saved from the wreaking ball, was picked up and moved and, finally, restored and opened to the public as an historic house museum. Contact: Hilbert Bolland at 805/639-5034 or e-mail at hiloramy@juno.com
VICTORIAN MOURNING CUSTOMS. Glenda Jackson, local historian and author of "Postcard History Series: Ventura," will explain the fascinating customs and superstitions involved with mourning the death of loved ones in the 1800s. She'll share artifacts from her extensive collection and explain why a woman mourned up to three years for her husband while her husband only mourned his wife's passing for nine months. Contact: Glenda Jackson at 805/642-2202.
LOST IN TRANSLATION: A DUTCHMAN ATTEMPTS TO LEARN ENGLISH. This talk began as an impromptu speech in a café and evolved to an hilarious account of Hilbert's trials and tribulations trying to decipher the pronunciation and meanings of words as he struggled to learn English. Contact: Hilbert Bolland, at 805/639-5034 or e-mail at hiloramy@juno.com
If your group does not use outside speakers, please pass this on to a group which does. Thank you! The Dudley House can be reached at 805/642-3345 or www.dudleyhouse.org 1/2006 |