White House Historical Association

Gladys E. Selmon

Ask a Historian Download as PDF
Cite this Page
"Gladys E. Selmon," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/1194.
Position
Maid
Years in President's House
circa 1970 – 1975
Legal Status
Free Person
Gender
Female
Race/Ethnicity
Black or African American
Presidencies
Richard M. Nixon
Gerald R. Ford
Biography
Gladys E. Seldon was born on August 30, 1910, in Washington, D.C.1 In 1938, she married James E Selmon and adopted his last name.2 On March 24, 1975, President Gerald Ford signed a Certificate of Meritorious Service for Gladys in recognition of her work on the White House Residence staff. He also signed one on the same day for Wilma Holness, who served as a maid for three decades and seven presidents, which suggests Gladys may have been a long-time employee at the White House.3 However, it is unknown when her work at the White House began or ended. She is included on staff lists from 1970-1973 and identified as a maid, as well as on a staff Christmas party list in 1974.4 Gladys passed away in 1982 and is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Washington, D.C.5
  1. “Gladys Selmon” in the U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/3693/records/56107377?tid=&pid=&queryId=8ea89ad7-7f41-44ca-af43-f5ba4cf76b23&_phsrc=KCT1774&_phstart=successSource
  2. “James E Selmon” in the Washington, District of Columbia, U.S., Marriage Bureau Listings, 1921-1990, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62797/records/1027163
  3. Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives (U.S. Government Printing Office, 1973), 47, https://www.google.com/books/edition/Hearings/6VHVAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1; “Presidential Log, March 1975,” Box 1, Folder 1, President’s Paperworks Logs, 1974-1977 at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, Grand Rapids, MI, https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/sites/default/files/pdf_documents/library/document/0174/154939216.pdf
  4. Untitled Staff List,  1970, Collection: White House Usher’s Office; Series: Rex Scouten’s Subject File; Folder: Residence Employees; Container 5, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library. Untitled Staff List, December 1972, Collection: White House Usher’s Office; Series: Rex Scouten’s Subject File; Folder: Residence Employees; Container 5, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library.  “12/13/74 - Residence Staff Christmas Party,” Box 2, Folder 2, of the Betty Ford White House Papers, 1973-1977 at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, Grand Rapids, MI, https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/sites/default/files/pdf_documents/library/document/0018/4515686.pdf  
  5. “Gladys E Selmon” in the U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60525/records/207954919?tid=&pid=&queryId=aac9c5c6-77ab-4867-9653-75b0cc5f6e92&_phsrc=KCT1770&_phstart=successSource 
Birthplace
Washington, D.C., USA
Mount Olivet Cemetery
Related Worker
Wilma Holness