Title: American Red Cross – Ojai Chapter WWII

Identifier: 14968 – From the MVC Research Library Digitized Photographs

UPCOMING MVC EVENTS

Nowruz: Persian New Year Celebration

Sunday, March 23

12:00 pm – 3:00 pm

@Museum of Ventura County

100 E. Main St., Ventura

Celebrate the vibrant traditions of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, at the Museum of Ventura County! Immerse yourself in Persian culture with a stunning Haft-Seen display, Persian dancing by the Sahala Dancers, calligraphy demonstrations, and hands-on crafts for all ages. Savor authentic Persian cuisine available for purchase from Safir Catering. Perfect for families, history enthusiasts, and those seeking a rich cultural experience, this event is a true feast for the senses. For more information on this free event, click HERE.

MVC NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Remembering Gerry Browning: A Legacy of Knowledge, Storytelling, and Joy

Gerry Browning was a remarkable individual whose presence left an indelible mark on the Museum of Ventura County. As a mentor, friend, and educator, she embodied patience and kindness, always eager to share her vast knowledge with those willing to learn. Her passion for storytelling was unparalleled, bringing history to life—especially through her comprehensive book on early California and the immersive educational tours she helped shape.

Gerry played a pivotal role in developing the Museum’s docent program, bringing experience and talent to the newly formed Docent Council in 1975. She was well-read, organized, and deeply dedicated to the Museum, designing an extraordinary six-month weekly training course for education docents. As a gentle mentor, she guided new docents on practice tours, captivating audiences of all ages with her engaging lectures—always delivered without notes.

For Gerry, education tours were more than just an opportunity to share history—they were a way to inspire curiosity and joy. Reflecting on her approach to leading students through the Museum, she wrote:

“Haku, chi chi hi (ha koo, chee chee hee); yawa hawi, hoshima (ya wah how ee, ho shee mah). I like to start my 3rd and 4th grade tours at the Ventura site with this Chumash greeting. Loosely translated, it means ‘Hi, kids; welcome friends.’ That takes in both students and chaperones. At first there are puzzled looks, but those soon give way to smiles and giggles, which is exactly what I am aiming for. At the end of the tour, I want them to go away with the impression that museums are FUN.”

She understood that learning should be an experience, not just a lesson. She created interactive tours that immersed students in Chumash culture, early California history, and Ventura County agriculture. Whether leading students in drawing pictographs in the Museum’s “cave,” teaching them to rope the wrought iron “steer,” or guiding them through planting seeds at the Agriculture Museum, Gerry fostered a deep connection between young visitors and the stories of the past. And it wasn’t just the students who benefited—she knew the joy of teaching firsthand:

“As our tours are winding up and we are headed to the doors, one thing we hear time after time is, ‘This was fun. I’m coming back!’ Yes, they had a good time, but we know from the letters they write that it was also a learning experience. It doesn’t get much better than that! And what about the docents who led the tours? Well, if you could see our smiles and hear us comparing notes and sharing experiences, it would be obvious that we love what we are doing. It truly is a joy!”

Gerry’s warmth and enthusiasm touched everyone she encountered. Those who had the privilege of witnessing her storytelling—especially her cherished tradition of using a coyote puppet during children’s tours—continue to feel her presence guiding them. Even after helping establish the Docent Council for the Reagan Library, the Museum of Ventura County remained her first love.

Gerry Browning’s legacy of knowledge, mentorship, and joy will continue to inspire generations to come. She will be deeply missed.

A Celebration of Life for Gerry will be held on Saturday, March 8, at 2 p.m. at the Ventura First Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Museum of Ventura County for the creation of an educational fund in Gerry’s honor. Please make checks payable to MVC with “Gerry Browning Educational Fund” in the memo or include her name in the “In Memory Of” section of our online donation form.

Thank you to Judy Hodson and Roberta Cordell for contributing to this article.

EXCLUSIVE ONLINE CONTENT

Visit the Digital Archives HERE.

(Above: Photo ID 21771 PC)

“Even after 76 years, John Doughty’s memories as an 8-year-old in 1910 were as clear as if it were yesterday.”

Explore the local legacy of Halley’s Comet on the MVC THEN Blog.

Want to follow along on other social media platforms? Check out @museumofventuracounty on FB, TikTok, YouTube, and X.

Exhibitions

MUSEUM OF VENTURA COUNTY

What is Beauty? Rethinking Women’s Portraiture in Art

What is Beauty? invites us to explore diverse perspectives on beauty through fourteen portraits by Ventura County artists from the Museum’s permanent collection. Spanning works created between 1939 and 2011, this exhibition showcases a range of styles—from vibrant realism to minimalist simplicity—challenging traditional standards shaped by art, media, and society.

Artists featured in the exhibition: Carlisle Cooper / Hiroko Yoshimoto / Johanna Spinks / John Nava / John Nichols – featured in exhibition logo / Kitty Botke / Lis Schwitters / Michael Ward / Neal Barr / Omar d’León / Robert Clunie.

This exhibition is made possible with the support of the Thomas and Esther Wachtell Family Endowment Fund and the Bonita C. McFarland Fund.

InnoVision: Ventura County

Artists to Watch

InnoVision is an interactive exhibition that highlights the work of nine Ventura County artists. Through their innovative use of common materials, they create installations that reflect their personal visions and views of current issues such as the environment, immigration, identity, the housing shortage, and changing land usage in Ventura County. Alongside each artist’s work, videos explore the artists’ visions for their communities, creative influences, and experiences living in Ventura County.

Artists participating in the exhibition: Jasmine Delgado / María Adela Díaz / Daniela García Hamilton / Luke Matjas / Marianne McGrath / Gladys Rodríguez / Clark Song / Olguín Tapia Heredia / Elisa Torres.

This exhibition is made possible with the support of the John Hammer Family, the City of Ventura, the County of Ventura, CAPS Media, and Whatako Productions.

Challengers of the Status Quo

A George Stuart Historical Figures® Exhibition

Challengers of the Status Quo features the masterful work of renowned artist George Stuart. Through his remarkable three-dimensional?Historical Figures®, Stuart brings to life eleven individuals who defied the norms of their time and reshaped history.

Every intricately detailed figure depicts a changemaker who was bold enough to question the status quo. This exhibition invites guests to reflect on the impact of visionaries who shaped the world—and to consider how embracing new ideas can pave the way for a better future.

Exhibitions

AGRICULTURE MUSEUM

Enfoque: Voces Indígenas Mexicanas del Condado de Ventura

(In Focus: Mexican Indigenous Voices of Ventura County)

Únase a nosotros en el Museo de la Agricultura para la inauguración de esta esperada exposición que muestra más de 40 retratos fotográficos del fotógrafo de fama internacional Diego Huerta. Estos retratos destacan las vibrantes y resistentes comunidades indígenas mexicanas del condado de Ventura. Para más detalles sobre la exposición, haga clic AQUÍ.

Join us at the Agriculture Museum for this highly anticipated exhibition opening showcasing over 40 photographic portraits by internationally acclaimed photographer Diego Huerta. These portraits highlight the vibrant and resilient Mexican Indigenous communities of Ventura County. For exhibition details, click HERE.

This exhibition is made possible with the support of Hofer Properties and Ventura Auto Center, the Busch Family Foundation, Oxnard Performing Arts Center, Gabriella Navarro-Busch and Peter Busch, and Vida Newspaper.

The Farm to Market Children’s Hands-On Exhibition

An interactive exhibit promoting healthy lifestyles through role-play, the Ag Market is an immersive environment where children and families identify healthy food choices in a fun, market-like atmosphere.

Special thanks to Santa Paula’s former mayor, Carlos Juarez, for building our fun-filled market.

MVC RECOMMENDS

Concert in the Gallery: Born of the Sun Preview

Saturday, March 15

7:30 pm – 9:00pm

@Studio Channel Islands Art Center

2222 Ventura Blvd., Camarillo

Enjoy a sneak preview of songs from an upcoming Broadway musical in development! Have you ever wondered how many steps it takes to get a musical from inception to stage?

Composer songwriter Lisbeth Scott will share songs from her upcoming show Born of The Sun, as she prepares for the show’s first workshop in New York this June.

Born of The Sun is a poignant and uplifting story of one woman’s journey from trauma to joy. Click HERE for more information and tickets!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Major funding for the programs at the Museum of Ventura County is made possible by City of Camarillo, City of Fillmore, City of Moorpark, City of Ojai, City of Oxnard, City of Port Hueneme, City of Santa Paula, City of Simi Valley, City of Thousand Oaks, City of Ventura, and the County of Ventura.

Thank you to our event sponsors: TOLD Corporation, William and Elise Kearney, Ventura County Community College District, EJ Harrison & Sons, Hofer Properties, Jennifer and David Fukutomi, Montecito Bank & Trust, Pierpont Racquet Club and Nancy and Spencer Garrett, Kirby Subaru of Ventura, Ventura Spirits, Al and Petra Lowe, Jill and Edward Banman, Limoneira, Marie Callender’s, Puretec Industrial Water, Amigo Party Rentals, In the Mix Events, and Peirano’s.

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