Charles M. Beckwith
Cite this Page
"Charles M. Beckwith," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/927.
- Position
- Electrician
- Years in President's House
- 1941 – 1958
- Legal Status
- Free Person
- Gender
- Male
- Race/Ethnicity
- White
- Biography
- Charles Morrison Beckwith was born on January 20, 1896, in Pomeroy, Pennsylvania. (1) He served in the U.S. Army during World War I and worked for a Philadelphia printing company before becoming a government electrician in Washington, D.C. In 1941, he joined the White House staff in that role. (2) Beckwith recalled: “I worked the 3:30 p.m. to midnight shift at the mansion. There was always a good deal of pressure on the job because presidents want things done right now, not a half-hour from now.” His duties included installing lighting fixtures, operating movies for the first family, fixing heating and cooling appliances, and other electrician-related tasks. (3) Beckwith remained on staff until he retired in 1958 and moved to Vero Beach, Florida. He died on August 10, 1977, and was buried at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. (4)
- (1) Charles Morrison Beckwith 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: 004, Ancestry.com.
(2) Charles Beckwith in the 1930 United States Federal Census, Year: 1930; Census Place: Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Page: 39B; Enumeration District: 1048; FHL microfilm: 2341868, Ancestry.com; Charles M Beckwith in the 1940 United States Federal Census, Year: 1940; Census Place: Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia; Roll: m-t0627-00566; Page: 15A; Enumeration District: 1-387A; “Former White House Electrician Now Grows Grapefruit in Vero, Indian River Press Journal (Vero Beach, Florida), December 7, 1967, pg. 23; Charles M Beckwith in the Pennsylvania, U.S., World War I Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948, Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, U.S., World War I Veterans Service and Compensation Files, 1917-1919, 1934-1948 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
(3) “Former White House Electrician Now Grows Grapefruit in Vero,” Indian River Press Journal (Vero Beach, Florida), December 7, 1967, pg. 23; “White House Dims Lights,” The South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana), May 7, 1946, pg. 4.
(4) “Charles Beckwith,” Indian River Press Journal (Vero Beach, Florida), August 10, 1977, pg. 2. - Birthplace
- Pomeroy, Pennsylvania, USA