Workers at the White House
odd: label: Introduction
content: For nearly two centuries, from the time of John Adams to the Festival program in 1992, the White House had been the home of American presidents. A powerful national symbol, it was a uniquely private and public place - at once a family residence, a seat of government, a ceremonial center, and an historic building and museum.

Over the years, hundreds of people worked behind the scenes to make the White House function, preparing family meals, serving elaborate State Dinners, polishing floors, tending the grounds, and welcoming visitors. In 1992, a household staff of 96 full-time domestic and maintenance employees - including butlers, maids, engineers, housemen, chefs, electricians, florists, ushers, doormen, carpenters, and plumbers - worked together under one roof to operate, maintain, and preserve the 132-room Executive Mansion.

In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the White House, the "Workers at the White House" program explored the skills and folklife of former White House workers - their occupational techniques, customs, values, experiences, and codes of behavior. It examined the distinctive ways in which the White House, as a unique occupational setting, shaped work experience. The living memory and first-hand experiences of the workers participating in the program spanned almost a century, and fifteen presidential administrations, from the presidency of William Taft to that of George H.W. Bush. Several had worked at the White House for over three decades, serving as many as ten first families. At the Festival, White House workers came together to share their life and work with the public. Through their stories, values, and experiences, they added a rich, human perspective to the historical record of a national institution.

Marjorie Hunt was Curator and Ann Dancy was Program Coordinator. Workers at the White House was made possible through the collaboration of the White House Historical Association which received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the support of the Johnson Foundation (Trust) and the Smithsonian Institution Special Exhibition Fund.
label: Fieldworkers
content: Marjorie Hunt, Ann Dancy, Liesl Dees
label: Presenters
content: Marjorie Hunt, Tim Lloyd, Worth Long
label: Participants
content: Eugene Allen, 1919-2010, head butler, maitre d', Washington, D.C.

Mary Anderson, pantry worker, Hillcrest Heights, Maryland

Russell Armentrout, 1929-, head, Social Entertainment Office, Silver Spring, Maryland

Alphadine Arrington, 1925-, records and documentation, Gift Unit, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Bonner Arrington, 1922-, carpenter foreman, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Howard Arrington, 1927-2007, plumbing foreman, Edgewater, Maryland

Armstead Barnett, 1912-2003, butler, Washington, D.C.

Gerald Behn, 1916-1993, Secret Service agent, McLean, Virginia

William Bowen, 1919-, part-time butler, Washington, D.C.

Preston Bruce, 1908-1995, doorman, Washington, D.C.

Kenneth Burke, 1908-2000, inspector, White House Police, Bradenton, Florida

Sean Callahan, 1965-, stone cutter and carver, Silver Spring, Maryland

Peter "Billy" Cleland, 1921-2010, stone mason, Clinton, Maryland

Raymond Cleland, 1967-, stone cutter and carver, North Beach, Maryland

J. Woodson Ficklin, -2009, houseman, Largo, Maryland

John Wrory Ficklin, part-time pantry-man, Bowie, Maryland

Samuel Ficklin, 1923-2000, part-time butler, Washington, D.C.

Alonzo Fields, chief butler, maitre d', Medford, Massachusetts

Sanford Fox, head, Social Entertainment Office, Alexandria, Virginia

Russell Free, 1924-2000, engineer, Arlington, Virginia

Arthur Godfrey, 1921-2002, Secret Service agent, Temple Hills, Maryland

Henry Haller, executive chef, Potomac, Maryland

Robert Harmon, 1920-1999, part-time butler, Washington, D.C.

Benjamin Harrison, 1917-2003, houseman, Washington, D.C.

James Jeffries, Sr., part-time butler, Washington, D.C.

James Jeffries, Jr., part-time butler, Washington, D.C.

John H. Johnson, 1924-2004, butler, Washington, D.C.

James R. Ketchum, 1939-, curator, Washington, D.C.

Flossie Malachi, pantry worker, Washington, D.C.

Lillian Rogers Parks, seamstress, maid, Washington, D.C.

Nelson Pierce, 1925-, assistant usher, Arlington, Virginia

Patrick Plunkett, 1947-, stone cutter and carver, Takoma Park, Maryland

David Roberts, 1960-, stone cutter and carver, Rockville, Maryland

William F. Ruback, 1933-, assistant horticulturalist, South Bethany, Delaware

Lewis M. Simmons, 1932-, chief engineer, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

William Stephenson, 1915-1999, part-time butler, Washington, D.C.

Philip Uhl, 1963-, stone cutter and carver, Silver Spring, Maryland

Norwood Williams, 1928-2003, mail messenger, part-time butler, Washington, D.C.

Elmer "Rusty" Young, 1925-1994, chief floral designer, Williamsburg, Virginia
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
setName: label: See more items in
content: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1992 Festival of American Folklife
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
identifier: label: Identifier
content: CFCH.SFF.1992, Series 5
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials