Charlene Simms Collection on Olibama Lopez Tushar, 1976-2022 | Colorado State University-Pueblo Library

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.