This list was compiled for First Lady Bess Wallace Truman in 1946, to coordinate Christmas gifts presented to White House staff. It includes the names of White House butlers, kitchen staff, maids, housemen, and doormen.
White House employees have long received tokens of appreciation from the president and first lady during the holidays. Gifts for staff members first became commonplace in the late 19th century, and over the proceeding decades included coins, turkeys, and personalized trinkets which varied by administration.
BUTLERS Alonzo Fields Charles Ficklin Robt. E. Beales, Jr. Armstead Barnett John Ficklin KITCHEN Elizabeth Moore[crossed out] Elizabeth Blake Estanislso Medina James H. Carter Wm. E. Jones Nolue Martinez Vietta Garr Allena Price[handwritten addition] MAIDS Lillian Parks Wilma Hughes Julia Mitchell Sharp Bluette Pannell HOUSEMEN Wm. Server Wm. I. Harley George W. Thompson Clayton Washington Roland Harley Herman Thompson DOORMEN John Mays Elbert Nixon[crossed out] James Wade Carl Ferguson Charles Taylor Melvin Carter[handwritten addition] Arthur Prettyman Shermont Brooks
This list was compiled for First Lady Bess Wallace Truman in 1946, to coordinate Christmas gifts presented to White House staff. It includes the names of White House butlers, kitchen staff, maids, housemen, and doormen.
White House employees have long received tokens of appreciation from the president and first lady during the holidays. Gifts for staff members first became commonplace in the late 19th century, and over the proceeding decades included coins, turkeys, and personalized trinkets which varied by administration.