Sherman, Anna K.

"Merry Christmas and a Good New Year" from Edith Warner to friends. Part of Anna K. Sherman Papers on Edith Warner (MSS 359)

Edith Warner spent the first 30 years of her life in Pennsylvania. She graduated from a normal school at age 18, and began to teach, first at a one room country school, then in a high school in Philadelphia. She taught for a few years, and then began working as an industrial secretary for the YWCA. In 1922, she suffered a breakdown. Her doctor prescribed a year of outdoor life without responsibilities. Edith Warner came to New Mexico to fill this prescription. She spent the year at a guest ranch in Frijoles Canyon, where she became enamored with the land and people. She spent a second year in New Mexico before returning back east, where her health deteriorated.

In 1928, Edith Warner returned to New Mexico. She was 35 years old, unmarried, and had no financial resources. When offered a job as watchwoman/storekeeper for mail and supplies at the Otowi railroad station, Edith accepted. At once, she began fixing up the house and having company for tea and chocolate cake. Atilano "Tilano" Montoya, governor of San Ildefonso Pueblo soon came to live with Edith. Tilano was approximately 25 years Ediths senior. Both were somewhat lost and lonely souls whose lives complemented and supported each other.

Edith lived in her "house at Otowi crossing" for more than 20 years. She was a neighbor and friend to the Indians at San Ildefonso Pueblo and to the Los Alamos scientists and their families. Robert Oppenheimer and Nils Bohr were among the scientists who frequented Ediths tea room, which provided a respite from the tensions of the war related activities at Los Alamos. Los Alamos was becoming a booming community. After the war, the railway was abandoned and supplies were brought in by truck. Plans to build a new bridge to accommodate the increased traffic forced Edith and Tilano to move. They found a site half mile up-canyon on pueblo land. A new house was built for them through the joint efforts of the San Ildefonso and Los Alamos communities.

In January, 1951, Edith Warner became very ill with cancer. She died on May 4, and was buried in San Ildefonso.

From the guide to the Anna K. Sherman Papers on Edith Warner, 1923-1951, 1943-1951, (University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research.)