Robert B. Balluff was born in January 1860 in Washington, D.C.¹ He began working at the White House in 1882 as a gardener and florist, caring for the gardens, grounds, and conservatory and preparing florals for White House events.² It later became a family affair, as his grandsons Robert and Vivian Kremer were also assigned to the White House from the Office of Public Buildings and Parks in the 1920s and 1930s.³ In 1908, Robert Balluff was transferred to that same office but continued to work for the White House, eventually becoming foreman of public buildings and grounds, and by 1929, he was head of shrubs and trees.⁴Balluff retired on July 1, 1932.⁵ He passed away on August 12, 1947, and was buried at Fairfax Cemetery in Fairfax, Virginia.⁶

“Robert B. Balluff,” Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30010825/robert-b-balluff; Robert B Balluff in the 1930 United States Federal Census, Year: 1930; Census Place: Washington, District of Columbia; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0072; FHL microfilm: 2340029, Ancestry.com.
“Greenhouse and Grounds, Executive Mansion, Washington. D.C.,” August 23, 1888, National Archives and Records Administration, White House Historical Association, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/photos/the-working-white-house-list-of-workers; “56 Park Employes Get Merit Awards,” Washington Post, March 28, 1926, pg. F7; “Robert B. Balluff Rites Held Today,” Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), August 14, 1947, pg. 22.
Employees on Duty at the Executive Office, 1929, Lou Henry Hoover Papers, Subject Files, White House Christmas 1929, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library; White House Employees, 1932, Lou Henry Hoover Papers, Subject Files, White House Christmas 1932, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library; Xmas List 1931, Lou Henry Hoover Papers, Subject Files, White House Christmas 1931, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library.
Employees on Duty at the Executive Office, 1929, Lou Henry Hoover Papers, Subject Files, White House Christmas 1929, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library; “Parks to Take Up Duties of Henlock,” Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), April 1, 1931, pg. 17, Chronicling America, https://www.loc.gov/item/sn83045462/1931-04-01/ed-1/; “War Department,” Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), November 21, 1914, pg. 10, Chronicling America, https://www.loc.gov/item/sn83045462/1914-11-21/ed-1/.
White House Employees, 1932, Lou Henry Hoover Papers, Subject Files, White House Christmas 1932, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library. His obituary incorrectly states that he retired in 1933. “Robert B. Balluff Rites Held Today,” Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), August 14, 1947, pg. 22.
“Balluf, Robert B.,” Washington Post, August 13, 1947, pg. B2.

Birthplace

Washington, D.C., USA

Fairfax Cemetery

Related Workers: Robert G. Kremer
Gardens, Grounds, and Flower Shop, circa 1929 – 1940; Vivian J. Kremer
Gardens, Grounds, and Flower Shop, circa 1929 – 1940