Robert E. Beals Jr.
Cite this Page
"Robert E. Beals Jr.," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/952.
- Position
- Butler
- Years in President's House
- circa 1944 – 1950
- Legal Status
- Free Person
- Gender
- Male
- Race/Ethnicity
- Black or African American
- Biography
- Robert Ernest Beals Jr. was born in Tampa, Florida on September 26, 1909. (1) Beals later relocated to Virginia, where he worked as a butler in private homes and boarding houses. (2) By 1944, he was employed as a White House butler and continued in the role through at least 1950, serving presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman and their guests. (3) While the White House was under renovation from 1948-1952, the Trumans lived at Blair House, and the staff worked onsite there. Robert E. Beals died on August 14, 1954, and was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Washington, D.C. (4)
- (1) Robert Ernest Beals in the U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards For Virginia, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 47, Ancestry.com.
(2) Robert Beals in the 1930 United States Federal Census, Year: 1930; Census Place: Richmond, Richmond (Independent City), Virginia; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0126; FHL microfilm: 2342212, Ancestry.com; Robert Beals in the 1940 United States Federal Census, Year: 1940; Census Place: Brookville, Campbell, Virginia; Roll: m-t0627-04252; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 16-5, Ancestry.com.
(3) "Roster of White House Employees, Revised, April 1, 1944," Folder: Investigative Case Files, 1934-1945, Records of the United States Secret Service, 1933-1945, Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, New York; White House Staff Christmas Gift List of Bess W. Truman, 1946, Christmas Lists Subject File, Bess W. Truman Papers, Harry S. Truman Library, https://catalog.archives.gov/id/139308529; Robert C Beals 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: 2138; Page: 2; Enumeration District: 1-168, Ancestry.com.
(4) “Deaths,” Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), August 18, 1954, pg. 28. - Birthplace
- Tampa, Florida, USA