Louis W. Walker
Cite this Page
"Louis W. Walker," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/1078.
- Position
- Engineer
- Years in President's House
- circa 1960 – 1961
- Legal Status
- Free Person
- Gender
- Male
- Race/Ethnicity
- Black or African American
- Biography
- Louis William Walker was born in October 1893 in Washington, D.C. (1) Prior to his work at the White House, Walker held a variety of jobs, including truck driver, chauffeur, a laborer for the Works Progress Administration, and an unspecified role with the First Baptist Church on Dumbarton Street in Georgetown. (2) The 1950 Census described Walker as a “laborer” at a “government building” but did not identify which building or what specific labor he performed. (3)
The exact tenure of Walker’s service at the White House is unclear and his work is confirmed by only two sources at this time. In November 1960, a newspaper published a short article informing readers that Walker was involved in a minor car accident and identified him as a “White House engineer’s helper.” (4) About a year later, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy included Walker on a list of White House staff and identified him as an engineer. (5) The role of White House engineer has evolved over time but often entailed a multitude of tasks focused on the maintenance of systems including HVAC and plumbing as well as movie theater operations.
Little else is known about Louis Walker at this time. He passed away in June 1968. (6) - (1) There is a discrepancy in sources regarding Walker’s birth date and location. His death record compiled by the Social Security Administration lists his birth date as October 17, 1893, but his World War II draft card lists his birth date as October 19, 1893. See “Louis Walker” in the U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014, accessed via Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3693/records/65097377, and “Louis William Walker” in the U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942, accessed via Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1002/records/17589072. As to his birth location, the 1930 Census lists his birth place as Virginia, but all other known records identify Walker as born in D.C. As such, the 1930 Census location was likely recorded in error.
(2) “Louis W Walker” in the 1930 United States Federal Census, accessed via Ancestry.com, 121336684; “Louis W Walker” in the U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995, Washington, D.C., Year: 1930, accessed via Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/15866239?ssrc=&usePUB=true&pId=1160616587; “Louis William Walker” in the U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942, accessed via Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/1002/records/17589072; “Lewis Wallser” in the 1940 United States Federal Census, accessed via Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2442/records/958511
(3) “Lewis W Walker” in the 1950 United States Federal Census, accessed via Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62308/records/15280548?tid=&pid=&queryId=b576fcde-c4b2-4dc8-b768-033dcbfa9276&_phsrc=SaP137&_phstart=successSource
(4) “White House Helper Charged,” The Progress-Index (Petersburg, VA), November 3, 1960, pg. 16, https://www.newspapers.com/image/40979852/?match=1&terms=White%20House%20Engineer
(5) Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis Personal Papers, Letitia Baldridge Files, Christmas: 1961 (2 of 2 Folders), John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, https://www.jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/archives/jbkopp-sf037-009#?image_identifier=JBKOPP-S
(6) “Louis Walker” in the U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014, accessed via Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3693/records/65097377 - Birthplace
- Washington, D.C., USA