National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Historical Overview
First, Second, Third, and Fourth Chamber Maids
A hierarchy existed in the job descriptions of the chambermaids. Theresa Farley
described the work of third chambermaid as cleaning the basement floor including the men's
rooms and the Housekeeper's Room, the upstairs lavatory for the maids, and the service stair
hall. She noted, "We had 72 steps and that had to be done every day." Her day ended at two
o'clock, when she went home, not having a room in the house. She noted, "The only time I
stayed in the house is that I filled in for any of the chamber maids that would leave, and I would
take the place of the first chamber maid until they would get one, or I would fill in for the second
chamber maid, or I would fill in for the parlor maid. Wherever there was a vacancy and they
needed me." 385
Theresa Farley was third chambermaid from 1927 to 1938. She apparently chose not to
stay in the positions she temporarily filled because they required living in the house. 386
Three Laundry Women
The laundry women were responsible for all household laundry belonging to the family.
Estate employees who lived in housing other than the mansion sent their laundry to local Hyde
Park women. Servants had a separate laundry room within the mansion. As an aside, Mrs.
Shears' laundry was delivered to her village laundress by Mr. Plain, an estate employee. 387
The Vanderbilts' personal staff
Personal staff traveled with the family, and resided at Hyde Park only when the family
was in residence. They were supervised by their employers directly, and no specific references
have been found to their interaction with the household staff.
Secretary
Very little evidence of Frederick and Louise's secretaries survives at Hyde Park, because
these staff members moved with the family from residence to residence and were paid out of an
account separate from Hyde Park.
Personal Maid
A lady's personal maid was responsible for maintaining her mistress's clothing and
assisting with her toilette which might require the skills of hairdressing as well as sewing. Louise
preferred French maids, as Eleanor Worcester noted:
She had a marvelous French personal maid, whom I remember well because she was such
fun. . . . She was always around. If you went in to talk to Mrs. Vanderbilt in the morning, or
something like that. If she sent somebody and said, "If you have 15 minutes, come over and
talk to me." Or in town. 388
385
Theresa Farley.
386
Theresa Farley.
387
Warren, 1902, 56, 65.
388
Worcester, 5.
78