George T. Ernest
Cite this Page
"George T. Ernest," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/710.
- Positions
- Gardener
- Florist
- Years in President's House
- circa 1918 – 1938
- Legal Status
- Free Person
- Gender
- Male
- Race/Ethnicity
- White
- Biography
- George Thomas Ernest was born on August 2, 1875, in Maryland. (1) As early as 1918, he worked as a gardener in the U.S. government propagating gardens on the National Mall, which provided flowers and greenery for White House use and events. (2) 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.” (3)
From 1929 to 1932, Ernest appeared on First Lady Lou Hoover’s annual White House staff Christmas lists as a Public Buildings and Public Parks employee detailed to the White House. There, he worked under White House Head Gardener Charles Henlock. (4) Ernest continued in this line of work for the National Park Service through at least 1938. (5) Further information about his career is limited, but it is possible that he worked on White House projects earlier or later than these dates. George T. Ernest died on September 7, 1943, and was buried at Glenwood Cemetery in Washington, D.C. (6) - (1) Some sources list Washington, D.C. as his place of birth. George Thomas Ernest in the U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Registration State: District of Columbia; Registration County: Washington, Ancestry.com; George Ernest in the 1930 United States Federal Census, Year: 1930; Census Place: Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia; Page: 25B; Enumeration District: 0232; FHL microfilm: 2340033, Ancestry.com.
(2) Ibid; “Washington’s Numerous Parks Putting on Their Summer Garb,” Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), May 13, 1921, pg. 17; George T Ernest in the 1920 United States Federal Census, Year: 1920; Census Place: Washington, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: T625_209; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 260, Ancestry.com.
(3) “Washington, The City Beautiful,” Kearney Hub (Nebraska), July 21, 1920, pg. 4.
(4) White House Employees, 1932, Lou Henry Hoover Papers, Subject Files, White House Christmas 1932, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library; Employees on Duty at the Executive Office, 1929, Lou Henry Hoover Papers, Subject Files, White House Christmas 1929, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library.
(5) Boyd’s District of Columbia Directory Vol. LXXX (R. L. Polk and Co., 1938), pg. 199.
(6) “Ernest, George T.,” Times Herald (Washington, D.C.), September 9, 1943, pg. 24. - Birthplace
- Maryland, USA