Harvey F. Gibson
Cite this Page
"Harvey F. Gibson," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/1020.
- Positions
- Butler
- Carpenter
- Years in President's House
- 1944 – 1979
- Legal Status
- Free Person
- Gender
- Male
- Race/Ethnicity
- Black or African American
- Biography
- Harvey Flemming Gibson was born on June 17, 1920, in New Glasgow, Virginia (today’s Clifford, Virginia). (1) He worked as a laborer for a steel company in Virginia prior to joining the White House staff in 1944. (2) The 1950 Census listed his occupation as White House waiter, but for the majority of his tenure there, he worked in the carpenter shop. (3) His duties included performing various carpentry projects at the White House, maintaining rooms and architectural features, furniture repair, and construction and installation projects. Gibson worked at the White House through 1979, spending thirty-five years on staff. (4) Harvey Gibson died on December 17, 2004. (5)
- (1) Staff List, Undated, folder: “Birthdays (Residence Staff)” box 29, Betty Ford White House Papers, 1973-1977, Gerald R. Ford Library; Harvey Flemming Gibson, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards For Virginia, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 276, Ancestry.com.
(2) Ibid; White House Office of the Curator, e-mail message to author, March 16, 2026.
(3) Harvey Gibbson, 1950 United States Federal Census, National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Washington, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: 2525; Page: 74; Enumeration District: 1-1215; Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis Personal Papers. Textual Materials. Letitia Baldrige Files. Christmas: 1961 (2 of 2 folders). JBKOPP-SF037-009. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.
(4) White House Office of the Curator, e-mail message to author, March 16, 2026.
(5) Harvey Gibson, U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014, Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File, Ancestry.com. - Birthplace
- Clifford, Virginia, USA