White House Historical Association

John Slothouber

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"John Slothouber," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/1002.
Position
Florist
Years in President's House
circa 1943 – 1944
Legal Status
Free Person
Gender
Male
Race/Ethnicity
White
Presidency
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Biography
Johannis “John” Slothouber was born in Valburg, The Netherlands on February 9, 1892. (1) He immigrated to the United States in 1918 and became a naturalized citizen. Slothouber worked as a farmer in Iowa, Illinois, and later in Fairfax, Virginia. (2) According to his 1942 draft card, Slothouber then worked for National Capital Parks within the Department of the Interior; he may have been assigned to the White House at that time, because by the next year, he was on staff in the Bouquet Room there. (3) Slothouber would have helped to arrange bouquets for daily use and special events at the White House. It is unclear how long he remained on staff at the White House, but by 1950, he had taken on a role as a coding clerk with the Internal Revenue Service and continued with the agency for the rest of his career. (4) He died on May 15, 1965, and was buried at Columbia Gardens Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. (5)
(1) John Slothouber, Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014, Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015; “John Slothouber,” Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88506199/john-slothouber.
(2) John Slothouber in the 1930 United States Federal Census, Year: 1930; Census Place: Pontoosuc, Hancock, Illinois; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 0026; FHL microfilm: 2340253, Ancestry.com; John B Slothouber, 1940 United States Federal Census, Year: 1940; Census Place: Providence, Fairfax, Virginia; Roll: m-t0627-04261; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 30-28B, Ancestry.com; Johannis Slothouber, New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957, The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715; RG Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; RG: 85, Ancestry.com; John Slothouber, U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
(3) "Roster of White House Employees, Revised, April 1, 1944,"Folder: Investigative Case Files, 1934-1945, Records of the United States Secret Service, 1933-1945, Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, New York..pdf ; "Christmas List for December 25, 1943 for the Men and & Wife & Children Up to 14 Years of Age," 1943, Folder: Christmas Lists; Topical File, 1933-1945, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt Papers, Part 1, 1884-1964, Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, New York.
(4) John Slothauber, 1950 United States Federal Census, National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Tysons Corner, Fairfax, Virginia; Roll: 3020; Page: 54; Enumeration District: 30-62, Ancestry.com.
(5) John Slothouber, Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014, Ancestry.com. Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015; “John Slothouber,” Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88506199/john-slothouber.
Birthplace
Valburg, The Netherlands