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National Museum of Nuclear Science & History

Dorothy McKibbin was responsible for welcoming new recruits to the Manhattan Project.

Known by many as the “Gatekeeper to Los Alamos,” McKibbin ran the Santa Fe office at 109 East Palace for the Los Alamos National Laboratory during World War II. She checked in the many scientists who came through Santa Fe on their way to work on the development of the atomic bomb, issuing passes and briefing them about life in the Manhattan Project.

McKibbin worked for the laboratory from 1943 until 1963. She was involved in community work after retirement.

(In additional to the linked Oral history, there is an earlier interview with McKibbin from 1965 conducted by Stephane Groueff that can be found here)

Dorothy McKibbin’s Timeline
1897 Dec 12th Born in Kansas City, Missouri.

19311943 Moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico and worked as a part-time bookkeeper at the Spanish and Indian Trading Company.

1943 Mar 27th1963 Jun 30th Joined the Manhattan Project as a secretary at 109 East Palace in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

1985 Dec 17th Died in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

J. Robert Oppenheimer hosting a party at his home in Los Alamos

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