Each week, the Archives features a woman who has been a groundbreaker at the Smithsonian, past or present, in a series titled Wonderful Women Wednesday.
Elease Hall was one of the first women to be hired as a permanent security officer in the Office of Protection Services at the Smithsonian. During her first year on the job in 1974, Hall’s commanding officer named her Outstanding Guard of the Month. Prior to entering the security force, Hall had worked as an elevator operator for the Smithsonian since 1965.
Until her retirement in 1994, Hall was stationed at the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Related Resources
- “Women in the Office of Protection Services,” by Lisa Fthenakis, The Bigger Picture, Smithsonian Institution Archives
- “Smithsonian Voices: A Photo Essay” by Betty J. Belanus, Marjorie Hunt, & Emily Botein, Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage