Charles H. Shepherd
Cite this Page
"Charles H. Shepherd," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/720.
- Position
- Carpenter
- Years in President's House
- 1923 – 1957
- Legal Status
- Free Person
- Gender
- Male
- Race/Ethnicity
- White
- Biography
- Charles H. "Charlie" Shepherd was born in Virginia on July 4, 1885. He worked in railroad shops prior to joining the White House staff. (1) According to newspapers, Charles “came to the White House on May 1, 1923, when Warren G. Harding was President. He was hired to run a motorized lawnmower— the first used at the White House— and switched to carpentry after a few months.” (2) Shepherd continued his work as a carpenter at the White House for decades to come. His day-to-day job included routine maintenance and construction projects– from building new tables for social events and dinners to restoring the oft-trodden floors of the public spaces. Sometimes, Shepherd found himself repairing the broken toys of a presidential grandchild or decorating for the holidays, and on Inauguration Day, he was part of the mad rush to move one president in and another out. He also worked through the Truman Renovation (1948-1952), later building himself a backgammon table from wood removed during the project. (3)
When Shepherd retired in 1957, he had worked for six presidents and risen to the position of foreman in the carpenter and paint shops. President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave him a personal send-off, and Shepherd spent his retirement building a home in Virginia. (4) He died on October 5, 1976, and was buried at Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery in Fluvanna County, Virginia. (5) - (1) Charles Henry Shepherd in the U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942, The National Archives At St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War II Draft Cards (Fourth Registration) For the District of Columbia; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System; Record Group Number: 147; Box or Roll Number: 062, Ancestry.com; Jean Burns, “White House to Own White House,” Richmond Times Dispatch, September 12, 1957, pg. 4.
(2) “White House Carpenter, 72, is Retiring,” The News and Advance, July 20, 1957, pg. 2.
(3) Jean Burns, “White House to Own White House,” Richmond Times Dispatch, September 12, 1957, pg. 4; “Decorate White House,” Cincinnati Post, December 22, 1933, pg. 9; Boyce Loving, “Retired Fluvanna Carpenter Takes Busman’s Holiday By Remodeling Cunningham Home,” Daily Progress, August 15, 1957, pg. 13.
(4) Peter J. Kumpa, “White House Fires Back at Symington,” Baltimore Sun, July 20, 1957, pg. 2; “President Harry S. Truman’s White House Staff,” Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/white-house-staff#S.
(5) “Charles H. Shepherd,” Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36069543/charles-h.-shepherd. - Birthplace
- Virginia, USA