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Alonzo Fields
was born in Lyles Station, Indiana, a small, all-black community
about 120 miles east of St. Louis, Missouri. His father owned
the local general store, directed a brass band (all black) that
played for local events, and eventually worked in Washington,
D. C. as a janitor for the Post Office Department. Alonzo's
mother contributed to the family income by running a boarding
house for railroad workers. From his dad, Alonzo learned much
about what would become a life-long passion -- music. Like his
father, Alonzo played in a brass band and taught others to play
brass instruments. Alonzo had a beautiful singing voice that
was praised by his teachers. His goal of achieving success as
a concert singer seemed certain until money for continuing his
education ran out. With a wife and child to support, he took
a position as a butler at the White House in 1931. Instead of
the job being a temporary as he planned, Alonzo found White
House employment suited him. He eventually would be promoted
to the position of Chief Butler.
He wrote
a book, My 21 Years in the White House, detailing
his experiences of working for four presidents and their families.
Alonzo knew that his job gave him the chance to see history
being made every day so he kept a journal. He did not want to
forget the events he worked and the people he met. He also saved
some souvenirs from important functions he planned or was invited
to attend. In his journal he recorded his personal observations
of the presidents and their families, and the important visitors
he served, and in some cases, conversed with. His position brought
him into close contact with important people like Winston Churchill,
Princess Elizabeth of England, Thomas Edison, John D. Rockefeller,
not to mention the presidential cabinet members, senators, representatives,
and Supreme Court Justices. He was witness to presidential decision-making
at critical times in our history -- the attack on Pearl Harbor,
the death of Franklin Roosevelt, the desegregation of the military,
and the outbreak of hostilities in Korea.
The job
of Chief Butler meant that Fields was responsible for keeping
track of all White House tablecloths, napkins, silverware, glassware,
and china. Also, he made menu suggestions for important state
dinners, receptions, teas, and family dinners to be approved
by the First Lady. He supervised the chefs and servers. He had
to be prepared to serve many people with little advance notice.
He had to learn what would and would not please each president
and his family.
Alonzo appreciated
that he was seeing America's history up-close and firsthand.
As he often told his staff, "... remember that we are helping
to make history. We have a small part, ... but they can't do
much here without us. They've got to eat, you know."
Alonzo Fields
left White House service in February 1953. He lived to be 94
years of age.
Reference:
Fields, Alonzo. My 21 years in the White House. New York:
Coward-McCann, 1960.
[Food budget]
Alonzo Fields Papers, Courtesy of the Truman Presidential Museum
and Library.
[Menus]
Alonzo Fields Papers, Courtesy of the Truman Presidential Museum
and Library.
Finding
Aid: Papers of Alonzo Fields
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