State Historical Society of Iowa

Servants in Bulloch Hall's Dining Room in Roswell, Georgia, March 27, 1907

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Servants in Bulloch Hall's Dining Room in Roswell, Georgia, March 27, 1907
Courtesy of Library of Congress, Paxton, William M., "The house maid," between 1900 and 1920

Description

#1 Occupation: Servant
In 1900, servants took care of the household, and sometimes, the people who lived there. Servants might dust, like the woman in this image, mop floors, tend fires, run errands and do the shopping, wash laundry and help family members with what they needed and sometimes do the cooking. Sometimes servants lived with the family they worked for, and sometimes they lived in another house away from the family. Sometimes they wore a uniform, and sometimes they did not. This photograph shows an African-American man and woman who worked in the Roosevelt family's household at Bulloch Hall in Roswell, Georgia.

Source-Dependent Questions

  • What is the working environment for a servant?
  • What skills does this servant need in order to be successful at their job?
  • What equipment would the individuals in the this photo use to do their job?

Citation Information 

"Bulloch Hall Dining Room, Scene of Marriage of President Roosevelt's Parents," 27 March 1907. Courtesy of Library of Congress