By Lorenzo Zamora
Title: Charlene Simms Collection on Olibama Lopez Tushar, 1976-2022
Primary Creator: Charlene Garcia Simms
Other Creators: Olibama Lopez Tushar (1906-2004)
Extent: 11.0 Folders
Arrangement: Arrangement of the collection is by topic.
Date Acquired: 10/11/2023
Subjects: Mexican Americans -- History, Olibama Lopez Tushar, Pueblo (Colo.) -- History, San Luis Valley -- History
Forms of Material: Newspapers, Photographs, Publications
Olibama Lopez Tushar was born on January 2, 1906, in Los Rincones near Manassa, Colorado, she came from a family of Spanish settlers who migrated to the San Luis Valley in 1849 as part of the Sangre de Cristo Land Grant. Dedicated to education, Tushar's family moved to Denver to provide her with a better schooling. She graduated as valedictorian from Belleview High School in 1924 and went on to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder, becoming one of the first Hispanic graduates. Olibama attended the University of Denver, where she earned a master's degree, likely being the first Hispanic woman to do so. Her thesis, "The Spanish Heritage in the San Luis Valley," later evolved into her book, "The People of El Valle," a comprehensive exploration of 300 years of Hispanic culture and traditions in the San Luis Valley.
In 1940, Tushar was recruited to teach at Walsenburg Public Schools due to her cultural knowledge and ability to connect with Hispanic students. The outbreak of World War II in 1942 led to her being drafted into government service as a deputy acting censor in El Paso, Texas. After being released from duty in 1945, she worked as a translator for export companies in Denver.
Olibama Lopez Tushar has received invaluable accolades, including induction into the International Biographical Center, a lifetime achievement award from the Genealogical Society of Hispanic America, and the establishment of the Olibama Lopez Tushar Hispanic Legacy Research Center in Denver.
Olibama Lopez Tushar was honored with The Lena L. Archuleta Community Service Award by the Denver Public Library in 2003. A bronze bust of Tushar is displayed in the Gates Western History Reading Room of the Denver Public Library, paying homage to her influential work. Olibama Lopez Tushar received the Legacy Award from The Latino Hall of Fame in 2019, and in 2022, she was posthumously inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame, further solidifying her place as a significant figure in the history and heritage of Colorado. Olibama Lopez Tushar passed away on January 19, 2004, in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.
Charlene Garcia Simms is a teacher-librarian from the San Luis Valley, specifically from the village of Garcia on the Colorado-New Mexico state line. She and her late husband, Ed, established El Escritorio Publishing in 1989, producing 15 books and magazines focusing on Southwest history, genealogy, Hispano culture, and Chicano art. Charlene is an author and poet, with various publications on genealogy and Southwest history. She contributed to an anthology called "Genealogy and the Librarian" and co-authored "Images of America, Pueblo." She edited and facilitated the publication of "Spanish/Mexican Legacy of Latinos in Pueblo County" and was involved in commissioning a mural, "Corazon del Pueblo," at the Rawlings Library in Pueblo.
In addition to her literary work, Charlene authored a memoir titled "The Orphan Stalk" and has written poems about her Manito Culture and identity. In 2019, Charlene was inducted as a Corn Mother, a project led by Renee Fajardo from Metro State University of Denver.
Repository: Colorado State University-Pueblo Library
Access Restrictions: There are no access restrictions on this collection.
Use Restrictions: Not all of the material in the collection is in the public domain. Researchers are responsible for addressing copyright issues.
Acquisition Source: Charlene Garcia Simms
Acquisition Method: The following material was acquired via donation.
Preferred Citation: Charlene Simms Collection on Olibama Lopez Tushar, Colorado State University-Pueblo Library, University Archives and Special Collections
