Harris L. Atchison
Cite this Page
"Harris L. Atchison," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/502.
- Position
- Doorkeeper
- Years in President's House
- 1886 – 1901
- Legal Status
- Free Person
- Gender
- Male
- Race/Ethnicity
- White
- Biography
Harris “Harry” L. Atchison was born in Washington, D.C. sometime between 1841 and 1842.1 Atchison worked as an officer for the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Force during the late 1860s.2 Leaving behind his career as a police officer, he became a doorkeeper at the Executive Mansion in 1886.3 Atchison served as White House doorkeeper during the administrations of Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, and William McKinley. Working under Chief Doorkeeper William Dubois, he acted as the president’s bodyguard, receiving a salary of $1,200.4
In July 1901, he transferred from the White House to the Department of the Interior.5 Atchison passed away in 1904, and was buried at Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C.6
- “Harris Atchison,” in 1880 United States Federal Census [Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia] (National Archives and Records Administration, 1880), 112B (roll 124), https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/35176227:6742.
- “Harris L. Atchison, 1868,” in U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995, Ancestry.Com, accessed March 4, 2022, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1034825993:2469?tid=&pid=&queryId=545d9bc92100e20c76b1622ea005a190&_phsrc=ump106&_phstart=successSource; “Harris L. Atchison, 1901,” in U.S., Register of Civil, Military, and Naval Service, 1863-1959, Ancestry.Com, accessed March 3, 2022, https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=2525&h=2235081&tid=&pid=&queryId=bd92a2fb8d051a7abee1559087fa10b9&usePUB=true&_phsrc=ump100&_phstart=successSource; “H.L. Atchison, 1885,” in U.S., Register of Civil, Military, and Naval Service, 1863-1959, Ancestry.Com, accessed March 3, 2022, https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=2525&h=1242030&tid=&pid=&queryId=0a98973ddadbd91e189384f7c49e80a5&usePUB=true&_phsrc=ump97&_phstart=successSource. Promoted to private class 2 in 1885, where he also earned a salary of $1,808.
- “Ex-Policeman Atchison Examined,” Evening Star, Washington, District of Columbia, July 28, 1890, pg. 2, https://www.newspapers.com/image/145513280/?terms="Harris L. Atchison"&match=1.
- “Harris L. Atchison, 1899,” in U.S., Register of Civil, Military, and Naval Service, 1863-1959, Ancestry.Com, accessed March 3, 2022, https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=2525&h=3559390&tid=&pid=&queryId=bd92a2fb8d051a7abee1559087fa10b9&usePUB=true&_phsrc=ump100&_phstart=successSource.
- “Harris L. Atchison, 1901,” in U.S., Register of Civil, Military, and Naval Service, 1863-1959; “Advances in Clerkships,” The Washington Times, July 6, 1901, pg. 5, https://www.newspapers.com/image/84708600/?terms="Harris L. Atchison"&match=1.
- “White House Usher Atchison,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, St. Louis, Missouri, August 17, 1904, pg. 5, https://www.newspapers.com/image/571390116/?terms="Harris L. Atchison"&match=1.
- Birthplace
- Washington, D.C., USA
- Congressional Cemetery