John Kramer
Cite this Page
"John Kramer," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/138.
- Position
- Footman
- Years in President's House
- 1801 – 1802
- Legal Status
- Free Person
- Gender
- Male
- Race/Ethnicity
- White
- Presidency
- Thomas Jefferson
- Biography
- John Kramer joined the White House staff as a footman in 1801; he was paid $12.00 a month, plus $2.00 for alcohol, 2 suits of livery and a pair of boots.1 He remained in the role until May 10, 1802, when White House Steward Étienne Lemaire informed Jefferson that: “Kramer departed after having hired his children. He left his new wife since they could not live together.”2 According to coachman Joseph Dougherty, Kramer’s wife exhibited “ignominious behavior” and former footman Edward Maher briefly filled in for Kramer until William Fitzwilliam joined the staff as his replacement.3 Jefferson was not sad to see Kramer go— he wrote that “tho’ he had several good qualities, he was awkward & ignorant.”4 There is little available information about Kramer’s life outside of the White House.
- “Memorandum Books, 1801,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/02-02-02-0011. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, Second Series, Jefferson’s Memorandum Books, vol. 2, ed. James A Bear, Jr. and Lucia C. Stanton. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1997, pp. 1032–1061.]
- “To Thomas Jefferson from Étienne Lemaire, 10 May 1802,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-37-02-035. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 37, 4 March–30 June 1802, ed. Barbara B. Oberg. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2010, pp. 441–442.]
- “To Thomas Jefferson from Joseph Dougherty, 11 May 1802,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-37-02-0359. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 37, 4 March–30 June 1802, ed. Barbara B. Oberg. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2010, pp. 443–444.]
- “From Thomas Jefferson to Étienne Lemaire, 14 May 1802,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Jefferson/01-37-02-0373. [Original source: The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, vol. 37, 4 March–30 June 1802, ed. Barbara B. Oberg. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2010, p. 463.]
- Birthplace
- Unclear from Context
- Unclear from Context
- Related Association Content
- https://www.whitehousehistory.org/a-well-ordered-household