Historian Nancy Bartlit will speak at the Placitas Community Library on February 18 at 2 PM. Her talk “Silent Voices of World War II,” will illustrate five aspects of New Mexico encounters with Japan. These include the Bataan Death March which 2000 NM National Guardsmen endured. The Navajo Code Talkers whose innovative use of their language created an unbreakable code which was critical to our success in the Pacific. She will also highlight voices from the shameful history of the Japanese internment camp in Santa Fe, the secret Manhattan Project, and questions around the reason for the Japanese surrender.
Nancy Bartlit is well known as a speaker, author, historic preservationist, and publisher on topics including World War II experiences in New Mexico. She has also travelled widely, visiting many WWII sites. Bartlit presided over the purchase of the cottage Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer lived in during WWII. Ms Bartlit championed the Art in Public Places bronze, iconic statues of “Oppie” and General Leslie R. Groves. She was honored with the Los Alamos Historical Society’s highest award and is a Los Alamos Living Treasure. She founded Pajarito Press LLC; M.A., International Communications (UNM); B.A., History (Smith College); and is former sensei in Sendai. Her book Silent Voices of World War II: New Mexico’s Fierce Encounters with Japan (new edition) will be available in 2023. For more information contact; www.nancybartlit.com or www.pajaritopress.com.
