Learn about the man who was arguably California’s first printer, and the twists of fate that led him to San Buenaventura, when Museum of Ventura County Research Librarian Charles Johnson explores the legendary life of Jose de la Rosa, a musician and one of the first printers in early California. The lecture is on Sunday, October 24 at 3:00 p.m. in the Museum of Ventura County’s Pavilion.

Johnson discusses the political turmoil of the time, and the connections between de la Rosa, a resident of Ventura from 1880 until his death in 1891, and a long printing tradition in his hometown of Puebla, Mexico. Two small religious books in the Research Library Collection may link de la Rosa to family publications in Mexico. Both of the devotional books are now on exhibition in the museum’s History Unexpected: Surprises, Insights and Revelations from the MVC Research Library Collection, on exhibition through November 28.

Johnson heads the Museum of Ventura County Research Library, and has been with the library for the past 20 years. He is a frequent speaker on Ventura County history.

Admission is $5 for general public and free for museum members, and includes entry to all museum galleries. For reservations, please call (805) 653-0323 x 315. The museum is located at 100 East Main Street in Ventura.

Story by Museum Research Library Head Charles Johnson