Discovering the Ventura Oilfield
Draft V.4
Thomas R. Bard, California petroleum industry pioneer.
Travers Newton of Carpinteria, California, is researching the history of the Ventura County oilfield discovered by his great-grandfather in 1867.
In 2020, Newton contacted the American Oil & Gas Historical Society (AOGHS). “Do you know anyone who is researching the history of the Ventura, California, oilfield? My great-grandfather, Thomas Bard, sank the first ‘gusher’ near Ojai, in Ventura County,” he noted
With subsequent emails — and the posting of his question on the AOGHS History Research Forum — Newton shared his already extensive research about Thomas Robert Bard (1841-1915). (more…)
