Honoring Nancy Bartlit: The Spirit of Peace, Legacy, and Exploration Opens the Oppenheimer Festival
On Saturday, August 16, 2025, the Oppenheimer Festival will open with a very special evening—an Opening Dinner and Tribute to Nancy R. Bartlit, one of Los Alamos’ most influential historians, civic leaders, and storytellers.
A 63-year resident of Los Alamos, Nancy has dedicated her life to preserving and sharing the history of this community and its role in the world. Her work has ensured that many of the landmarks, stories, and commemorations we enjoy today will endure for future generations. From championing the statues of Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer and General Leslie Groves to securing the Oppenheimer House for the Historical Society, Nancy has left a permanent mark on the town’s cultural landscape .
From left to right: Art Freed, Oppenheimer Memorial Committee rep, Stephani Johnson, LA County staff for Art in Public Places Board, Richard McIntyre, Parks Manager and designer of the base for the statues, Linda Deck, Bradbury Museum Director (CM), Susanne Vertel, sculptor, Gerry Strickfaden, Chairman of the Fuller Lodge/Historic Districts Advisory Board (FL/HDAB), Hedy Dunn, then Museum Director of the Los Alamos Historical Museum (CM), Nancy Cerutti, LA county staff for the FL/HDAB, Nancy Bartlit, Chairman of the Historic Sculpture Master Plan and member FL/HDAB (CM), Ron Wilkins, past Chair of the FL/HDAB and Treasurer of the Los Alamos Historical Society (CM), and Katy Korkos, Member Services Coordinator for the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce.
As a historian, educator, author, and publisher, she has bridged cultures, gathering voices from both New Mexico and Japan to tell the full story of the Pacific War. Her co-authored book Silent Voices of World War II gives voice to POWs, Navajo Code Talkers, Japanese internees, and the scientists of Project Y, ensuring that the human side of history is never forgotten .
Nancy Bartlit at the 2024 Oppenheimer Festival, presenting on the Santa Fe Internment Camp and Japan’s WWII nuclear program.
The Oppenheimer Festival’s 2025 theme—Peace, Legacy, and Explore—is embodied in Nancy’s life’s work:
- Peace: Through her cross-cultural storytelling, Nancy has fostered understanding between nations once at war, bringing forward voices from both New Mexico and Japan to encourage reflection, reconciliation, and dialogue.
- Legacy: Her leadership and preservation efforts have safeguarded Los Alamos’ historical treasures—from securing the Oppenheimer House to championing the statues of Oppenheimer and Groves—ensuring the community’s history endures for future generations.
- Explore: Her scholarship and preservation efforts invite both locals and visitors to explore Los Alamos—discovering the lesser-known stories, historic places, and human experiences that connect this community to the wider world.
From the June 27, 2004 dedication of the Oppenheimer House—a milestone in preserving Los Alamos history, championed by Nancy Bartlit.
It is a personal honor for us to recognize Nancy at the festival’s opening. I have learned so much from her over the years—about history, about service, and about the importance of keeping our shared stories alive. In many ways, she is a living embodiment of what the Oppenheimer Festival strives to celebrate: the human stories behind science, the courage to preserve memory, and the invitation to explore.
The evening will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a private dinner at the SALA Event Center, featuring opening remarks, the presentation of the tribute, and a ceremonial kickoff for the two-week festival .
Over the decades, Nancy has:
- Served as Los Alamos’ top elected leader at a time when few women held such roles.
- Led the Los Alamos Historical Society, securing the Oppenheimer House and championing the Oppenheimer and Groves statues from concept to dedication.
- Co-authored Silent Voices of World War II, giving voice to POWs, Navajo Code Talkers, Japanese internees, and Los Alamos scientists.
- Taught in Japan and later tutored Japanese scientists in Los Alamos, building cross-cultural understanding.
- Researched and published works that expand the historical record of New Mexico’s role in WWII.
- Represented Los Alamos history through lectures, writings, and cultural preservation efforts across the state and beyond.
Her dedication has never slowed. Every day, Nancy finds new ways to research, teach, and preserve our shared history. Thank you, Nancy, for continuing to share these stories.
To learn more about Nancy Bartlit and her work, visit www.nancybartlit.com.
