White House Historical Association

William E. Brown

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"William E. Brown," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/932.
Position
Pantryman
Years in President's House
circa 1940
Legal Status
Free Person
Gender
Male
Race/Ethnicity
Black or African American
Presidency
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Biography
In 1940, William E. Brown was included on a list of African-American employees at the White House. He was listed among pantry staff, so his duties included managing food supplies, shining silver, cleaning and organizing the pantry spaces, and assisting with some food preparation. (1) He may have worked at the White House prior to or after 1940, but further information about Brown’s life and career is limited at this time.
(1) “Colored Regular Employees of the White House Christmas, 1940," Folder: Christmas Subject File, Grace Tully Papers, Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, New York; Dictionary of Occupational Titles (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1949), pg. 940.
Birthplace
Unclear from Context