This collection includes correspondence, documents, newspaper clippings, and other materials pertaining to the professional life of Nancy E. Smith, the first female Chair of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, member of the Public Land Law Review Commission, and a major figure in San Bernardino County politics during the 1960s-1970s.

Nancy E. Smith was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 1st, 1912, and was raised by her grandparents Will and Della DeSalyard Deshon. Following her marriage to C. Lowell Smith in 1944, Nancy Smith moved to San Bernardino, California in 1948 where her husband found success in real estate and she began her political career. In 1956 Nancy Smith was elected to the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to represent the 5th district and in 1962 was elected as the county's first woman chair of the board. She served until 1964 and then again from 1973-1975. Smith also served on the California State University, San Bernardino Advisory Board from 1968-1978. Among her most notable accomplishments, Smith was selected by former United States President Lyndon B. Johnson to serve on the Public Land Law Review Commission from 1965-1970. Nancy E. Smith retired from politics in 1976 and lived with her family in Oregon until her death on November 10th, 2000.

10.0 Linear Feet (6 legal document boxes, 2 flat storage boxes, and 1 shelf)

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This collection is open for research.