White House Historical Association

Melvin E. Bradford

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"Melvin E. Bradford," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whitehouseworkers.org/Detail/workers/1450.
Position
Grounds Laborer
Years in President's House
circa 1970 – circa 1974
Gender
Male
Race/Ethnicity
Black or African American
Presidencies
Richard M. Nixon
Gerald R. Ford
Biography

Melvin Edward Bradford was born on May 26, 1923, in Washington, D.C.1 During World War II, Bradford served in the U.S. Army.2 By the mid-1950s, Bradford was employed as a National Capital Parks laborer, a subsection of the National Park Service in Washington, D.C.3 From at least 1970-1974, he worked at the White House, helping to maintain the gardens and grounds. His tenure there may have spanned beyond these years, but information is limited at this time.4

Bradford died on June 24, 2005, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.5 

  1.  Several military documents list 1924 as Bradford’s birth year, but this biography is based off of his gravestone. “Melvin E. Bradford,” Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49127686/melvin-e-bradford; Melvin Edward Bradford in U.S., Korean War Era Draft Cards, 1948-1959, National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 1926–1975; Record Group Number: 147; Series: Post-WWII through Vietnam Era Selective Service Records, District of Columbia; Series Number: 147-76-30, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62234/records/265095.
  2. “Melvin E. Bradford,” Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49127686/melvin-e-bradford.
  3. Melvin Edward Bradford in U.S., Korean War Era Draft Cards, 1948-1959, National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 1926–1975; Record Group Number: 147; Series: Post-WWII through Vietnam Era Selective Service Records, District of Columbia; Series Number: 147-76-30, https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/62234/records/265095.
  4. “Reception-Friday, December 13, 1974 at 4:00 p.m.,” folder: “12/13/74 - Residence Staff Christmas Party,” box 2, Betty Ford White House Papers, Gerald R. Ford Library, https://www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov/sites/default/files/pdf_documents/library/document/0018/4515686.pdf; Untitled Staff List, 1970, Collection: White House Usher’s Office; Series: Rex Scouten’s Subject File; Folder: Residence Employees; Container 5, Jimmy Carter Presidential Library.
  5. “Melvin E. Bradford,” Find a Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49127686/melvin-e-bradford; “Bradford, Melvin Edward,” Washington Post, June 29, 2005, VAB7.
Birthplace
Washington, D.C., USA
Burial Place
Arlington National Cemetery
Blue markers indicate birthplaces and green markers indicate burial places. Black markers are used for places of both birth and burial.