Bartholomew J. Curran
Cite this Page
"Bartholomew J. Curran," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/703.
- Positions
- Florist
- Gardener
- Years in President's House
- circa 1917 – 1940
- Legal Status
- Free Person
- Gender
- Male
- Race/Ethnicity
- White
- Biography
- Bartholomew J. Curran, better known as “Bartie,” was born on October 7, 1897, in Washington, D.C.1 As early as 1917, he worked as a florist at the White House greenhouses, which were located on the National Mall near the Washington Monument.2 These greenhouses grew plants for use on the White House Grounds and for White House events under the supervision of Chief Gardener Charles Henlock.3 According to a 1920 newspaper article, “...a force of 35 men is kept constantly at work in the White House greenhouses and the propagating greenhouses… constant and devoted attention to their work has won for the gardeners of the ‘nation’s greenhouses’ favorable reputation not only in the United States but outside our boundaries.”4 Curran eventually became gardener foreman of the White House greenhouses on detail from the Office of Public Buildings and Parks. He served in this role at least through 1940; it is possible he worked there beyond that time, but documentation is scarce. The 1950 Census listed him as a maintenance foreman for National Capital Parks and by 1958, he was Chief of the Potomac Park section of National Capital Parks in D.C. (6) Bartie Curran died on August 23, 1975, and he was buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery. (7)
- (1) Bartie Joseph Curran in the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWIIDraft Registration Cards For District of Columbia, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 53, Ancestry.com; Bartholamew Curran in the 1900 United States Federal Census, United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls, Ancestry.com. (2) The earliest documentation found related to his work at the White House comes from a World War I draft card where he lists his place of employment as “White House Greenhouses.” It is possible that he joined the staff earlier, but documentation is scarce. Bartie Joseph Curran in the U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Registration State: District of Columbia; Registration County: Washington, Ancestry.com. (3) “Washington, The City Beautiful,” Kearney Hub (Nebraska), July 21, 1920, pg. 4. (4) Ibid. (5) Bartholomew Curran in the 1950 United States Federal Census, National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Year: 1950; Census Place: Washington, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: 5910; Page: 72; Enumeration District: 1-386, Ancestry.com; “As Freezing Weather Hits Washington Area,” Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), December 12, 1958, pg. 29, Chronicling America, https://www.loc.gov/item/sn83045462/1958-12-12/ed-1/. (6) Bartholomew Curran in the 1940 United States Federal Census, Year: 1940; Census Place: Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia; Roll: m-t0627-00558; Page: 16A; Enumeration District: 1-187, Ancestry.com; White House Employees, 1932, Lou Henry Hoover Papers, Subject Files, White House Christmas 1932, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library. (7) “Curran, Bartholomew J.,” Washington Post, August 24, 1975, pg. 42.
- Birthplace
- Washington, D.C., USA
- Cedar Hill Cemetery