Celia was also active in highlighting Santa Paula’s past: “When Mary Alice wrote the books” for Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series that concentrate on local histories, “Celia was very active in promoting and selling the books, both volume one and two.”
With a strong interest in photography, Dominguez, the Society’s Membership Committee chairperson said Celia was particularly dedicated to obtaining photos that showed Santa Paula at different times in its history. Borrowed photos were fine by Celia, who would make sure the images were carefully scanned and the original returned to the owner. And, realizing that history is often the historians, “Celia was in charge of the scrapbooks of the historical materials for the society itself.”
Overall, Dominguez said Celia “had good ideas... she never had a favorite project - she loved all history and all the exhibits. We also were devoted to obtaining and retaining materials pertaining to Mexican culture in historical Santa Paula. We did a history of the Californians; we would never leave out that Mexicans were the original Californians. “We did a lot of research,” said Dominguez, “and we did what we had to do.”
Donations are tax-exempt, as the Santa Paula Historical Society is a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation. Checks may be sent to the Santa Paula Historical Society’s address: P.O. Box 842, Santa Paula, CA 93061. Please do note for whom the gift is given on the memo line.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Society or wish to become a member, contact Dominquez at 933-2341. Visit the Santa Paula Historical Society website at www.santapaulahistoricalsociety.org.
