Thomas L. Boggess
Cite this Page
"Thomas L. Boggess," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/841.
- Position
- Grounds Laborer
- Years in President's House
- circa 1929 – 1931
- Legal Status
- Free Person
- Gender
- Male
- Race/Ethnicity
- White
- Presidency
- Herbert Hoover
- Biography
- Thomas L. Boggess was born on January 20, 1859, in Virginia. (1) For much of his career, he worked in ship building as a carpenter. (2) Later, he worked for the Office of Public Buildings and Parks, and as early as 1929 he was assigned to the White House as a yardman, performing manual labor on the grounds. (3) In 1931, his entry on the annual staff Christmas lists notes “retired,” suggesting that he left White House service that year. (4) Thomas L. Boggess died on April 1,1934, and was buried at Nanjemoy Baptist Church Cemetery in Charles County, Maryland. (5)
- (1) Thomas L Boggess in the 1900 United States Federal Census, Year: 1900; Census Place: Washington, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: 162; Page: 9; Enumeration District: 0085, Ancestry.com; “Thomas L. Boggess,” Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30184221/bog.
(2) Ibid; Thomas L Boggess in the 1920 United States Federal Census, Year: 1920; Census Place: Washington, Washington, District of Columbia; Roll: T625_207; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 82, Ancestry.com.
(3) Employees on Duty at the Executive Office, 1929, Lou Henry Hoover Papers, Subject Files, White House Christmas 1929, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library; Boyd’s District of Columbia Directory (R. L Polk and Co., 1927), 285.
(4) Xmas List 1931, Lou Henry Hoover Papers, Subject Files, White House Christmas 1931, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library; Christmas 1930, Lou Henry Hoover Papers, Subject Files, White House Christmas 1930, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library.
(5) “Boggess, Thomas L.,” Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), April 2, 1934, pg. 9. - Birthplace
- Virginia, USA