White House Historical Association

Sylvena C. Brooks

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"Sylvena C. Brooks," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whitehouseworkers.org/Detail/workers/1258.
Positions
Checker
Housekeeper
Years in President's House
1970 – 1997
Gender
Female
Race/Ethnicity
Black or African American
Presidencies
Richard M. Nixon
Gerald R. Ford
Jimmy Carter
Ronald Reagan
George H. W. Bush
Bill Clinton
Biography

Sylvena Carter Brooks was born on September 12, 1931, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.1 She moved to Washington, D.C. with her family as a child and later worked as maid in the city.2 

In April 1970, Sylvena Brooks was hired part-time at the White House to serve as a checker at large social events. In this role, she checked coats, bags, or other accessories for visitors.3 Later, she became a full-time housekeeper, and kept both public and private areas tidy by sweeping, dusting, washing linens, and more.4 She remained on staff until 1997.5

Sylvena Brooks passed away on July 14, 2007. She was buried at Lincoln Cemetery in Suitland, Maryland.6

  1. “Executive Residence Alphabetical Personnel Roster,” 88-09-03, folder Personnel (Residence) - [Staffing Reports] (2), Office of the Executive Residence: Usher’s Office: Records, 1981-1989, Ronald Reagan Library; Sylvena Brooks in U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/60901/records/31741231.
  2. Sylvena Carter in 1940 United States Federal Census, Year: 1940; Census Place: Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia; Roll: m-t0627-00554; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 1-43, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2442/records/874600; Sylvena C Brooks in U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995, Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/2469/records/1026265951.
  3. Rex Scouten to Trudy Brown, April 21, 1970, Collection: White House Usher’s Office; Series: Rex Scouten’s Subject File; Folder: Maid Part-Time Container 3, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library.
  4. White House Office of the Curator, e-mail message to author, March 16, 2026.
  5. Ibid.
  6. “Sylvena C. Brooks,” Washington Post, July 21, 2007, B7. 
Birthplace
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Burial Place
Lincoln Cemetery
Blue markers indicate birthplaces and green markers indicate burial places. Black markers are used for places of both birth and burial.