Mary E. Sharpe
Cite this Page
"Mary E. Sharpe," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/923.
- Position
- Housekeeper
- Years in President's House
- 1943 – circa 1950
- Legal Status
- Free Person
- Gender
- Female
- Biography
- Mary Etta Sharpe obtained her position at the White House through her neighbor, Henrietta Nesbitt, the head housekeeper at the time. In 1943, while Sharpe’s husband served abroad in World War II, Mrs. Nesbitt offered her a job as a junior housekeeper at the White House. After training under Mrs. Nesbitt for nearly three years, Sharpe stepped into the role of head housekeeper when Henrietta retired. Her responsibilities included supervising other staff members, planning meals, confirming menus with First Lady Bess Truman, purchasing food, directing daily dusting and vacuuming, and taking china and serving ware inventory. (1)
One story recounts how Mrs. Sharpe would send Secret Service agents to pick up food orders from local vendors. She praised them as “good shoppers,” noting that when she asked for “hard heads of lettuce,” they returned with lettuce—not cabbage. (2)
In late 1948, as the Truman Renovation began, the first family relocated to Blair House. Mrs. Sharpe initially stayed behind to assist with moving out furniture and supplies. After completing that task, she took a sabbatical from her role, planning to remain on leave until the Executive Mansion was ready to reopen. (3) However, she never returned to the White House following her leave.
In April 1950, Mrs. Sharpe was elected president of the Alexandria, Virginia branch of the National League of American Pen Women. This organization provided mutual aid and professional development for women writers, journalists, painters, musicians, art teachers, and others. (4) Her work with this group took precedence in her retirement, as she continued participating in art shows and organizing events for the Pen Women. (5) - (1) Hope Ridings Miller, "About Washington," Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), September 25, 1946, 22, https://www.newspapers.com/image/868328700/?match=1&terms=%22mary%20sharpe%22.
(2) Associated Press, "Secret Service Agents Know Their Groceries," Times Herald (Washington, D.C.), November 29, 1946, 3. https://www.newspapers.com/image/1037998498/?match=1&terms=%22mary%20sharpe%22.
(3) Evelyn Peyton Gordon, "Tea on the House?" The Washington Daily News (Washington, D.C.), November 24, 1948, 27, https://www.newspapers.com/image/1040037535/?match=1&terms=%22mary%20sharpe%22.
(4) "Officers Named By Pen Women," Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), April 24, 1950, 31. https://www.newspapers.com/image/868231535/?match=1&terms=%22mary%20sharpe%22; Pen Women Then and Now," National League of American Pen Women, accessed March 28, 2025, https://www.nlapw.org/history/.
(5) Current Art Shows in Nearby Virginia," Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), September 11, 1955, 114, https://www.newspapers.com/image/869769133/?match=1&terms=%22mary%20sharpe%22. - Birthplace
- Unclear from Context
- Related Workers
- Victoria D. H. NesbittHousekeeping and Laundry, 1933 – 1946
- Mable E. Walker CiarrochiHousekeeping and Laundry, Curators, 1946 – 1963