In this photograph, White House Executive Chef René G. A. Verdon (right) and assistant chef Julius Spessot (left) stand behind a banquet table for First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s luncheon for newswomen. This luncheon took place on April 11, 1961 in the State Dining Room, just six days after Verdon’s first official meal as White House Executive Chef. This quick turnaround was expected in Verdon’s early tenure, as he was initially hired to cater the numerous meals presented after President John F. Kennedy took office. Like many White House luncheons at this time, this elegant display was presented buffet-style.

This photograph of White House Executive Chef Cristeta "Chris" Comerford was taken by Chuck Kennedy on December 3, 2014. In the photograph, Chef Comerford makes final preparations in the East Room of the White House before a Christmas holiday volunteer reception held during the Barack Obama administration.

This photograph of White House calligraphers setting out place cards in the State Dining Room was taken by Robert L. Knudsen on November 1, 1961. At left is Sanford L. Fox, chief of the White House Social Entertainments Office, with Russell Armentrout, assistant chief of the White House Social Entertainments Office, at right. The table was being set for a dinner hosted by President John F. Kennedy in honor of former President Harry S. Truman.

This photograph of First Lady Nancy Reagan and Raisa Gorbacheva, wife of Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev, the general secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, was taken by Susan Biddle on December 9, 1987. White House Curator Betty C. Monkman, on the far right, is captured giving Reagan and Gorbacheva a tour of the Green Room. The Gorbachevs were visiting the White House as part of an official State Visit.

This photograph of White House Chief Usher J. B. West was taken by Robert L. Knudsen on February 20, 1962. West is captured sitting at his desk in the Usher's Room. West joined the White House Residence staff as an assistant to Chief Usher Howell G. Crim in 1941, a role he would eventually take over when Crim retired in 1957. He would hold that position until his own retirement in 1969.

This photograph of White House carpenter Isaac M. Avery, right, inspecting floors in the Blue Room was taken on August 15, 1955 during the Dwight D. Eisenhower administration. The man on the left is unidentified. Avery worked at the White House for 35 years, from 1930 to 1965, and six presidents.

This photograph of White House carpenter Isaac M. Avery waxing and polishing floors in the East Room was taken on August 15, 1955 during the Dwight D. Eisenhower administration. He appears to be surrounded by cameramen in the foreground. Avery worked at the White House for 35 years, from 1930 to 1965, and six presidents.

This photograph of a member of the White House Residence staff was taken at an egg nog party hosted by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and First Lady Mamie Doud Eisenhower on December 20, 1956. The party took place in the State Dining Room of the White House.

This photograph of White House butlers Eugene C. Allen, left, and John H. Johnson, right, was taken at an egg nog party hosted by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and First Lady Mamie Doud Eisenhower on December 20, 1956. The party took place in the State Dining Room of the White House. Allen and Johnson, who were brothers-in-law, worked together at the White House for three decades.

This photograph of White House butlers John H. Johnson, left, and Eugene C. Allen, right, alongside an unidentified colleague at center was taken at an egg nog party hosted by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and First Lady Mamie Doud Eisenhower on December 20, 1956. The party took place in the State Dining Room of the White House. Allen and Johnson, who were brothers-in-law, worked together at the White House for three decades.

This photograph of White House carpenter Isaac M. Avery waxing and polishing floors in the East Room was taken on August 15, 1955 during the Dwight D. Eisenhower administration. Two unidentified colleagues are visible in the back. Avery worked at the White House for 35 years, from 1930 to 1965, and six presidents.

This photograph of members of the White House Residence staff was taken at an egg nog party hosted by President Dwight D. Eisenhower and First Lady Mamie Doud Eisenhower on December 20, 1956. The party took place in the State Dining Room of the White House.

This photograph of White House carpenter Isaac M. Avery waxing and polishing floors in the East Room was taken on August 15, 1955 during the Dwight D. Eisenhower administration. Two unidentified colleagues are visible in the back. Avery worked at the White House for 35 years, from 1930 to 1965, and six presidents.

This photograph of President Barack Obama greeting White House Residence staff was taken by Pete Souza on January 26, 2009. The group was gathered in the East Room of the White House just six days after President Obama's inauguration. In this photograph, Obama is shaking hands with White House calligrapher Richard T. Muffler. Muffler was a third generation White House employee (following his grandfather, Richard T. Tracey, and father, John P. Muffler, Sr.) and worked there from 1978 to 2011.

This photograph of President Gerald R. Ford shaking hands with (likely) White House butler Eley F. Young was taken by Ricardo Thomas on January 20, 1977. Members of the Residence staff had gathered in the State Dining Room for President Ford and First Lady Betty Ford's final departure of the White House ahead of President Jimmy Carter's inauguration. Young was a veteran of both World War II and the Vietnam War when he applied to be a butler at the White House. He started working there as a butler's apprentice in 1967 while still enlisted in the Navy. He worked as an apprentice for three years before becoming a full-time butler, a position he held until his retirement in 1987.

This photograph of President Gerald R. Ford shaking hands with White House butler Eugene C. Allen was taken by Ricardo Thomas on January 20, 1977. Allen and other members of the Residence staff were gathered in the State Dining Room for President Ford and First Lady Betty Ford's final departure from the White House and ahead of President Jimmy Carter's inauguration. Allen began working at the White House as a pantryman in 1952, eventually rising to the roles of butler and, later, maitre d' over the course of his career. Allen retired in 1986 after working over thirty years at the White House and serving eight presidents.

This photograph of President Gerald R. Ford shaking hands with White House butler John H. Johnson was taken by Ricardo Thomas on January 20, 1977. Members of the Residence staff had gathered in the State Dining Room for President Ford and First Lady Betty Ford's final departure of the White House ahead of President Jimmy Carter's inauguration. Johnson began working at the White House in 1956 alongside fellow butler and brother-in-law Eugene C. Allen. Johnson was promoted to head butler in 1986 before retiring three years later. At the end of his career, he had been working at the White House for three decades, serving seven presidents.

This photograph of President Gerald R. Ford shaking hands with (likely) White House valet Zosimo T. Monzon was taken by Ricardo Thomas on January 20, 1977. Members of the Residence staff had gathered in the State Dining Room for President Ford and First Lady Betty Ford's final departure of the White House ahead of President Jimmy Carter's inauguration. Monzon was born in the Philippines and served in the United States Navy for three decades. His route to the White House started in the 1950s when he was assigned to President Harry S. Truman when he traveled to Key West, Florida and, later, at the White House. From around 1961 to 1988 he worked as a houseman, in the White House laundry, and as valet to President Richard M. Nixon and President Ford. He retired from the Navy in 1978.

This photograph of President Gerald R. Ford greeting members of the White House Residence staff was taken by David Hume Kennerly on January 20, 1977. Residence staff had gathered in the State Dining Room for President Ford and First Lady Betty Ford's final departure from the White House ahead of President Jimmy Carter's inauguration. The group gathered included ushers, maids, butlers, and other domestic staff.

This photograph of President Gerald R. Ford greeting White House maid Viola Wise was taken by Ricardo Thomas on January 20, 1977. The two are captured in the State Dining Room where Residence staff had gathered for President Ford and First Lady Betty Ford's final departure from the White House ahead of President Jimmy Carter's inauguration. Wise worked at the White House from 1939 to 1982, across nine presidencies.

This photograph of President Gerald R. Ford shaking hands with White House butler John H. Johnson was taken by Ricardo Thomas on January 20, 1977. Maitre d' John W. Ficklin stands in the background. Members of the Residence staff had gathered in the State Dining Room for President Ford and First Lady Betty Ford's final departure of the White House ahead of President Jimmy Carter's inauguration. Johnson began working at the White House in 1956 alongside fellow butler and brother-in-law Eugene C. Allen. Johnson was promoted to head butler in 1986 before retiring three years later. At the end of his career, he had been working at the White House for three decades, serving seven presidents.

This photograph of President Gerald R. Ford shaking hands with a member of the White House Residence staff was taken by Ricardo Thomas on January 20, 1977. Members of the Residence staff had gathered in the State Dining Room to say goodbye to President Ford and First Lady Betty Ford upon their final departure from the White House and ahead of President Jimmy Carter's inauguration.

This photograph of President Gerald R. Ford greeting White House doorman General L. Cooke was taken by Ricardo Thomas on January 20, 1977. Members of the Residence staff had gathered in the State Dining Room for President Ford and First Lady Betty Ford's final departure from the White House ahead of President Jimmy Carter's inauguration. Cooke worked as a doorman at the White House from 1965 to 1981.

This photograph of First Lady Betty Ford greeting White House maitre d’ John W. Ficklin was taken by Ricardo Thomas on January 20, 1977. President Gerald R. Ford stands in the background. Members of the Residence staff had gathered in the State Dining Room for President and Mrs. Ford's final departure of the White House ahead of President Jimmy Carter's inauguration. Ficklin joined the Residence staff in 1939 as a pantryman before enlisting in the United States Army during World War II. His brother, Charles E. Ficklin, helped him get the job. He returned to the White House in 1945 as a butler before being promoted to maitre d' in 1965 upon the retirement of his brother. It was a position he would hold until his retirement in 1983.

This photograph of First Lady Betty Ford greeting members of the White House Residence staff was taken by Ricardo Thomas on January 20, 1977. Mrs. Ford greeted the group in the State Dining Room ahead of her final departure, along with President Gerald R. Ford, from the White House before President Jimmy Carter's inauguration. Among the group are White House maid Adell Brown and butlers Wilson R. Jerman, John H. Johnson, and Alfredo Saenz.