White House Historical Association

Thomas J. Scanlon

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"Thomas J. Scanlon," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/679.
Position
Unclear from Context
Years in President's House
circa 1928
Legal Status
Free Person
Gender
Male
Race/Ethnicity
White
Presidency
Calvin Coolidge
Biography
Thomas Joseph Scanlon was born on September 6, 1904, in Washington, D.C. (1) 
The only known mention of Scanlon in relation to the White House comes from a Washington Herald newspaper article detailing funeral arrangements for White House maid Katherine Wynne. When Katherine died in 1928, Scanlon served as a pallbearer alongside other White House employees including B.E. McKenner, Joseph A. Sheehan, William Shields, and Edward A. Norris. (2) 
His dates of employment at the White House are unclear. Although he was likely working at the White House in 1928, he was not recorded at the White House in the 1920 or 1930 Census. Additional details about his life remain unclear at this time. (3) 
 
  1. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 for Thomas Joseph Scanlon, Ancestry, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2238/images/44015_06_00049-00911?ssrc=&queryId=fb42b6bc-efcc-4881-a58f-8c5e0e3ec858&usePUB=true&pId=5967089.
  2. “Final Rites are Held For White House Maid,” Washington Times Herald, January 17, 1928, https://www.newspapers.com/image/1044650132/?match=1&terms="Thomas Scanlon".
  3. “Thomas J Scanlon 1920 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6061/records/113356341?tid=&pid=&queryId=d7fcbfbc-982c-4f30-909b-cdb123184a18&_phsrc=OuO1415&_phstart=successSource; “Thomas J Scanlon 1930 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry, accessed June 4, 2026, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224/records/7040243?tid=&pid=&queryId=d7fcbfbc-982c-4f30-909b-cdb123184a18&_phsrc=OuO1415&_phstart=successSource. 
     
Birthplace
Washington, D.C., USA
Related Workers
Katherine Wynne
Housekeeping and Laundry, circa 1920 – 1928
Joseph A. Sheehan
circa 1928
B.E. McKenner
circa 1928
William F. Shields
Gardens, Grounds, and Flower Shop, circa 1929 – 1932
Edward A. Norris
Trades, 1892 – 1932