Frank W. Kelsey
Cite this Page
"Frank W. Kelsey," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/921.
- Position
- Usher
- Years in President's House
- 1933 – circa 1935
- Legal Status
- Free Person
- Gender
- Male
- Race/Ethnicity
- White
- Presidency
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Biography
- Frank Waterman Kelsey was born in Springfield, South Dakota on July 25, 1895. (1) Kelsey began working for the Veterans Administration (today known as the Department of Veterans Affairs) in 1919. After the death of longtime White House Chief Usher Ike Hoover in 1933, Kelsey was transferred to an assistant usher opening on the White House staff. (2) Kelsey worked under new Chief Usher Raymond Muir and Second Usher Howell G. Crim. (3) Kelsey is mentioned in the role through 1935; by 1940 he had returned to the Veterans Administration, where he spent much of his career. (4) In 1945, Administrator of the Veterans Administration General Omar N. Bradley appointed Kelsey to serve as assistant veterans administrator in charge of financial services. (5) Frank W. Kelsey died on January 27, 1973, and was buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Prince George’s County, Maryland. (6)
- (1) “Frank Waterman Kelsey,” Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/245814569/frank-waterman-kelsey?_gl=1*gocdlc*_gcl_au*MTYzMzc4ODIwNC4xNzcyNDc5Mjc3; Frank Waterman Kelsey in the U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942, National Archives at St. Louis; St Louis, MO, USA; 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: 037, Ancestry.com; Frank W. Kelsey in the U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014, Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File, Ancestry.com.
(2) “South Dakotan White House Usher,” Argus-Leader (Sioux Falls, South Dakota), July 15, 1934, pg. 2; “Kelsey Selected as Aid by Bradley,” The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana), November 5, 1945, pg. 3.
(3) “Mrs. Mays and Miss Witz Accompany Mrs. Hull to White House,” The Daily News Leader (Staunton, Virginia), March 3, 1935, pg. 3.
(4) Frank Kilsey in the 1940 United States Federal Census, Year: 1940; Census Place: Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia; Roll: m-t0627-00559; Page: 64A; Enumeration District: 1-212, Ancestry.com; Frank N Kelsey 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: 3069; Page: 73; Enumeration District: 1-421, Ancestry.com.
(5) “Kelsey Selected as Aid by Bradley,” The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana), November 5, 1945, pg. 3.
(6) “Frank Waterman Kelsey,” Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/245814569/frank-waterman-kelsey?_gl=1*gocdlc*_gcl_au*MTYzMzc4ODIwNC4xNzcyNDc5Mjc3. - Birthplace
- Springfield, South Dakota, USA
- Related Workers
- Raymond D. MuirUshers, Stewards, and Doorkeepers, 1930 – 1938
- Howell G. CrimUshers, Stewards, and Doorkeepers, circa 1930 – 1957