Yes. There is/was an exception to the rule that restricts white to the grounded (neutral) conductor for wiring switches.

To get back to the original problem, one of he switches most likely is wired wrong.

If both switches are properly three ways, my guess is that someone has one of the traveler / common wires swapped. I'd try swapping the wires on the switch (most likely the one that is contingent on the first one). There's really only three ways it can be hooked up...so try the other two.

You must identify which terminal on the switch is the common terminal however (and try that on the other two wires). The other two terminals are effectively interchangeable.

Yes as ronnatalie stated there is an exception, when the power is brought to the light fixture,then the white of the(2) wire going to the switch is connected to the "hot" or black power wire.This wire(white) is used to bring the power to the switch, then the black(2) wire brings the power back to the light from the switch to turn it on......This 2 way switch connection is wired different from the 3 wire light connection as stated below. One example of a 3 way switch connection is: the black power wire bringing power to the switch is installed on the black screw of # (1) 3 way switch, and the white,neutral in this case is connected to white wire of the 3 wire,( blk,red and white), going from #(1) switch to #(2) switch,and connects to the white 2 wire coming from the light.The black wire also coming from the light connects to the "black" screw on #(2) switch. The remaining red and black wires, "travelers", from the 3 wire connect to the other 2 screws in the same position on both switches, e.g,black on the top and red on the bottom of both switches. This is the sequence if the power and light fixture wires are at different switches. If they are in the same switch area, there is another sequence. Hope this helps