Charles W. Mascord

Charles Walter Mascord was born in England sometime in the late 1860s.¹ In 1894, he immigrated to the United States and later became a naturalized U.S. citizen.² Prior to his work at the White House, Mascord was a butler at the home of William S. Cowles, a high-ranking officer in the U.S. Navy, naval aide to President William McKinley, and brother-in-law to Theodore Roosevelt.³ It is likely in this capacity that Mascord met Roosevelt, for whom he would soon work. 

In 1902, during Roosevelt’s tenure as president, Mascord was hired as an usher at the White House to fill a vacancy in the role when Usher Thomas E. Stone was promoted to chief usher.⁴ As an usher, Mascord was stationed in the Entrance Hall and was responsible for greeting guests, escorting them around the White House, providing security, and helping to manage the household.⁵ 

After several years at the White House, Mascord resigned in September 1904 to work at the St. Regis Hotel in New York.⁶ Mascord worked at the St. Regis for several decades and eventually became the manager. He was still working there on March 8, 1936, when he passed away.⁷