Historian Heather McClenahan is slated to give a presentation on Women of the Manhattan Project in celebration of Women’s History Month. Courtesy photo
LOS ALAMOS HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWS
Join the Los Alamos Historical Society and the Los Alamos Creative District for History on Tap online on Monday, March 22, at 5:30 p.m. Celebrating Women’s History Month, historian Heather McClenahan will introduce us to stories of women who lived and worked here in Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project.
History on Tap is free, and you can register to attend via Zoom here: www.losalamoshistory.org/events.
You may often hear the complaint: “They never tell us that in the history books!” Actually, “they” do. You just have to find the right history books! From their roles as scientists, technicians, telephone operators, truck drivers, wives, mothers, and more, women played significant roles in Los Alamos during the Manhattan Project. A standard high school history book may not tell the stories, but memoirs, biographies, books focused on women’s history, and a bit of old-fashioned digging in archives for oral history interviews and newspaper articles reveal hundreds of these stories. We’ll delve into some of the stories that are powerful, heartwarming, and surprising during History on Tap for March, Women’s History Month. Bring questions and stories of your own!
Heather McClenahan, a writer and historian, retired from the executive director position of the Los Alamos Historical Society in 2019 with the intention of traveling the world with her husband. Halted in their travels by COVID-19, they have settled in a home base in Las Cruces, where Heather continues to study history and work sporadically on a book about Los Alamos history in between hiking, bird watching, and eating green chile.
History on Tap is part of the On Tap series presented by the Los Alamos Creative District. Each evening begins with a short, informal presentation followed by a lively group discussion. Learn more at https://www.creativelosalamos.com.
The Los Alamos Historical Society preserves, promotes, and communicates the remarkable history and inspiring stories of Los Alamos and its people for our community, for the global audience, and for future generations. More information about the Historical Society can be found at www.losalamoshistory.org. Stay up to date with the latest news from the Historical Society by following @LosAlamosHistory on Facebook and Instagram.