Mary Sett
Cite this Page
"Mary Sett," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/392.
- Position
- Laundress
- Years in President's House
- circa 1867
- Legal Status
- Free Person
- Gender
- Female
- Race/Ethnicity
- Unclear from Context
- Presidency
- Andrew Johnson
- Biography
- Mary Sett worked as an assistant laundress in the White House during the presidency of Andrew Johnson, serving under head laundress Cassa Bawdry. Surviving financial records document her service in January 1867.1 She may have worked at the White House before or after that month, but no additional records have yet been identified to confirm the duration of her employment. As a laundress, Sett would have assisted with the first family’s laundry, including washing, drying, and folding textiles. No additional records have been identified that shed light on her life or career.
- Andrew Johnson Papers, Series 10, Financial Records, 1829–1877; Bills, 1835–1868, Oct., Image 417, Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/resource/mss27839.mss27839-051_0376_1142/?sp=417&st=image&r=0.209,0.638,0.919,0.504,0.
- Birthplace
- Unclear From Context
- Unclear From Context
- Related Worker
- Cassa BawdryHousekeeping and Laundry, circa 1865 – 1868