Shirley Bailey, housekeeper, 1970. Housekeeper Shirley Bailey, a veteran of the hotel industry, inspects one of the guest rooms. The housekeeping staff makes the beds, vacuums the floors and carpets, dusts the furniture, and ensures that the White House is always looking its best.

White House Historical Association

Clara Richardson, maid, 1966. Clara Richardson dusts some of the dolls collected around the world by Lynda Bird Johnson, President Lyndon B. Johnson’s daughter.

White House Historical Association

Cristeta Comerford, chef, 2005. Cristeta Comerford is the first woman to hold the position of White House executive chef. She was born in the Philippines, came to the United States in 1985, started working at the White House in 1995, and was named to her present post in 2005.

White House Photo