Jensine O. Nelson
Cite this Page
"Jensine O. Nelson," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/687.
- Position
- Cook
- Years in President's House
- circa 1920
- Legal Status
- Free Person
- Gender
- Female
- Race/Ethnicity
- White
- Presidency
- Woodrow Wilson
- Biography
Jensine O. Nelson was born in Norway around 1874. She immigrated to the United States in 1904. In 1920, the Washington, D.C. directory lists an individual named Jensine Nelson working as a cook at the White House.1 That year, a woman named Jennie appeared on the census living at the White House and working as a cook.2 It is very likely Jennie is a nickname for Jensine.
Further information about Nelson’s life is unknown at this time.- “1920 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry, accessed June 8, 2026, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/6061/images/4295774-00339?ssrc=&queryId=10a61390-8812-4e29-923d-657a4942ad61&usePUB=true&pId=19700757.
- “U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 for Jennie Nelson,” Ancestry, accessed June 8, 2026, https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2469/images/15861322?ssrc=&queryId=af46c003-2010-4bd9-9be6-75cb43acc6c3&usePUB=true&pId=1024541614.
- Birthplace
- Norway
- Unclear from Context