Roland A. Harley
Cite this Page
"Roland A. Harley," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/971.
- Positions
- Houseman
- Messenger
- Doorkeeper
- Years in President's House
- circa 1946 – 1981
- Legal Status
- Free Person
- Gender
- Male
- Race/Ethnicity
- Black or African American
- Biography
- Roland Alton Harley was born on April 23, 1911, in Forestville, Maryland. (1) As a young man, he worked as a truck driver in a coal yard, and during World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy. (2) After the war, Harley joined the White House staff. By 1946, he appeared on a staff Christmas list as a houseman. This role entailed cleaning, moving furniture, and assisting with other general household maintenance. A relative, William I. Harley, also worked there in the same position. (3) By 1950, Roland Harley worked as a White House messenger, delivering time sensitive materials for the office of Assistant to the President John R. Steelman. (4) Harley was employed at the White House through at least 1981; by then, he worked as a doorman for the Usher’s Office. (5) His exact date of retirement is unclear. Roland A. Harley died on March 24, 1996 and was buried at Maryland National Memorial Park in Laurel, Maryland. (6)
- (1) Roland Alton Harley, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; WWII Draft Registration Cards For District of Columbia, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 98, Ancestry.com; Roland A. Harley, U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014, Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File, Ancestry.com.
(2) Roland Harley, 1930 United States Federal Census, Year: 1930; Census Place: Washington, District of Columbia; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0333; FHL microfilm: 2340036, Ancestry.com; Roland A Harley, U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2020, U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs; United States; U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs Birls Death File, 1850-2022; URL: https://www.va.gov/ , Ancestry.com.
(3) 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.
(4) Today this role is known as the chief of staff. Roland F Harley, 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: 477; Page: 13; Enumeration District: 1-742, Ancestry.com; “President Harry S. Truman’s White House Staff,” Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, https://www.trumanlibrary.gov/library/white-house-staff#H.
(5) “The Working White House: Roland Harley,” White House Historical Association, https://www.whitehousehistory.org/photos/the-working-white-house-roland-harley.
(6) “Harley, Roland Alton,” Washington Post, March 27, 1996, D4. - Birthplace
- Forestville, Maryland, USA
- Related Association Content
- https://www.whitehousehistory.org/photos/the-working-white-house-roland-harley