Nancy Hall

Nancy Pearl Johnson was born on October 5, 1904 in Prescott, Arkansas to George Sim Johnson and Minnie Bryan Johnson. From the age of 6 she lived in Little Rock, Arkansas and attended Little Rock Public Schools. Her early career included work as staff for the Arkansas Legislative Council and Arkansas Commissioner of State Lands. Johnson married Claris G. "Crip" Hall on October 5, 1929, and had one daughter. When Crip became Arkansas Secretary of State in 1936 Nancy Hall joined his staff.[1]

When Crip died in 1961, Governor Orval Faubus appointed Nancy to serve the remained of his term, in a practice sometimes referred to as widow's succession. Upon her appointment, Hall became the first woman to hold constitutional office in Arkansas.[2] As Secretary of State, Hall oversaw maintenance of the Arkansas State Capitol Building, and attracted attention by arguing that a state Easter service on the Capitol grounds should be cancelled rather than desegregated.[1] Arkansas law prohibited appointees to vacant positions from running for the same office in the subsequent election, and Hall instead sought election as State Treasurer.

Hall was elected State Treasurer in 1962, and became the first woman elected to constitutional office in Arkansas, and the second woman to win a statewide election after Senator Hattie Wyatt Caraway. As Treasurer, Hall oversaw the automation and computerization of state accounting procedures.[1]

Hall did not run for reelection in 1980. After serving for 18 years and 9 terms, Hall left office in 1981 and was succeeded by Jimmie Lou Fisher. Hall died on January 1, 1991 at age 86.[1]