Silver Trunk, ca. 1817

J. P. Shriner & Co.

Wood and Brass

Many early presidential households relied upon enslaved butlers, waiters, and cooks. Silver cutlery and other pieces of tableware may have been handled, cleaned, and cared for by enslaved workers owned by different presidents. The use of silver trunks not only protected these pieces from dirt and dust while not in use—it also kept them away from anyone who might steal the valuables inside. An 1844 newspaper article chronicles the robbery of “silver table and teaspoons” at the White House, implicating a “colored servant belonging to” President John Tyler and another Black servant named Mary Murphy. Theft was a form of resistance for enslaved people, as extra income could be used to purchase food, tools, or even passage to freedom. These actions were risky. If caught, it could lead to punishment. In the case of John Tyler’s servants, it does not appear that Mary or the unnamed servant were charged with a crime, but they may have been punished in other ways.

Dressing Chest of Drawers, ca. 1865-1870

Unknown

Rosewood, rosewood veneer/oak, pine, tulip poplar; mirror glass; brass

Mirrors are not only decorative items. They also provide a way to see oneself, often serving a role in morning routines such as getting dressed, shaving, or applying makeup. This dressing chest with a mirror likely came to the White House during the presidency of Andrew Johnson, but Johnson’s appearance was not solely his own responsibility. William Andrew Johnson, born into slavery in the Johnson household, served as President Johnson’s valet for many years.

Valets serve a critical and intimate role in the White House, caring for a president’s wardrobe, assisting with shaving and other grooming routines, traveling with the president, and providing any other assistance as needed. Although Andrew and Eliza Johnson emancipated William and the other enslaved servants they held in bondage before President Lincoln’s assassination, William continued to work in their household, coming to the White House with him in 1865.