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Parke Shepherd Rouse, Jr. Papers

Access and use

Location of collection:: College of William and Mary

Special Collections Research Center

Earl Gregg Swem Library

College of William and Mary

400 Landrum Drive

PO 8795

Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795

Contact for questions and access:: Email: spcoll@wm.edu

Phone: (757) 221-3090

Fax: (757) 221-5440

Web: swem.wm.edu/scrc

Restrictions:: Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Terms of access:: Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred citation:: Parke Shepherd Rouse, Jr. Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Summary

Extent:: 18.50 Linear Feet
Creator:: Rouse, Parke Shepherd, Jr., Ford, Gerald R., 1913-2006, Meade, Robert Douthat, 1903-1974, and Simpson family
Language:: English
Preferred citation:: Parke Shepherd Rouse, Jr. Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Background

Scope and content:

Professional and personal papers of Parke Shepherd Rouse, Jr. who was a newspaper writer and columnist and an author of books on Virginia.

His personal correspondence covers his college years at Washington and Lee University; his years in the Navy during World War II; his early career while working in Richmond, Virginia and Newport News, Virginia; and his business affairs. His college and Navy letters include not only the letters he wrote home, but the letters he received from family and friends. Memorabilia, articles and official papers from his time in the Navy are also included. His personal papers include material on his leadership roles in the Jamestown Festival and Colonial Records Project, among others. Sixty-four playbills from the 1930's and 1940's are also part of this collection.

His professional papers include his notes, research, drafts, transcripts, notecards, photographs, clippings, correspondence, financial material and copies/drafts of his books, articles and columns. The material includes copies of his Sunday feature column in the Daily Press which were vignettes of people, places and the history of Virginia, mostly in the Williamsburg and Tidewater area from the 17th to the 20th century. Some notes and research are for books and articles that he never wrote or published, mostly about late 18th century and early 19th century famous people, places and events in Virginia.

Professional papers of Parke Rouse with his notes, research, drafts, transcripts, notecards, photographs, clippings, correspondence, financial material and copies of his books, articles and columns. Much of the material was generated in part by his Sunday feature articles and popular history books.

Notes, drafts, correspondence and research from various books written or planned by Parke Rouse.

Photographs of portraits, buildings, etc. taken in preparation of his biography of James Blair, James Blair of Virginia (MacMillan, 1971). Photographs include 1) James Blair (5 photographs of portraits) 2) John Blair 3) Edmund Jenings 4) Sir Harlottle Grimston 5) Edward Stillingfleet, Bishop of Worcester 6) Thomas Tenison, Archbishop of Canterbury 7) Edmund Gibson, Bishop of London 8) William Wake, Chancellor of the College 9) Thomas Bray 10) Sarah Harrison Blair 11) Robert Boyle 12) Gilbert Burnet, preacher of the Rolls Chapel 13) Henry Compton, Bishop of London 14) John Tillotson, Archbishop of Canterbury 15) John Locke 16) Philip Ludwell II 16a) Hannah Harrison 17) Brafferton 18) WM grammar school room 19) John Marot's Tavern 20) Blair House 21) University of Aberdeen 22) Prentis Store 23) Great Hall 24) Wren Chapel 25) Bruton Parish 26) Edinburgh - High Street 27) St. Giles, Edinburgh 28) SPGA 29) University of Edinburgh 30) Graves of Blairs, Jamestown 31) Title Page of Blair's sermon on the Mount 32) Xerox copy of Blair's power of attorney to his brother, John. Original, Scottish Record Office. 33) Chapel of the Rolls, London

Typescript of manuscript with some corrections.

Typescript of manuscript with corrections and additions by Parke Rouse and the publisher.

Typescript of manuscript with some corrections.

Typescript of manuscript with corrections and additions by Parke Rouse and the publisher.

Mss. Acc. 1998.19

Cows on the Campus: Williamsburg in Bygone Days Published 1973 by Dietz Press, Given by PR to Betsy Rouse to be given after his death to the institution of her choice.

Cows on the Campus: Williamsburg in Bygone Days

Cows on the Campus: Williamsburg in Bygone Days Notations by local citizens who proofed certain chapters

Cows on the Campus: Williamsburg in Bygone Days

Cows on the Campus: Williamsburg in Bygone Days Pages 1-36

Cows on the Campus: Williamsburg in Bygone Days Pages 37-107

Cows on the Campus: Williamsburg in Bygone Days Pages 108-182

Contains notes, articles about Williamsburg written by Rouse and others and correspondence.

Contains notes, articles about Williamsburg written by Rouse and others and correspondence

A House for a President: 250 Years on the Campus of the College of William and Mary Research and Correspondence. Published 1983.

A House for a President: 250 Years on the Campus of the College of William and Mary Research, correspondence, photographs for book and proofs. Published 1983.

A House for a President: 250 Years on the Campus of the College of William and Mary Research, correspondence, photographs for book and proofs. Includes a copy of part of "Diary of Thomas Roderick Dew, circa 1820-1822." Published 1983.

A House for a President: 250 Years on the Campus of the College of William and Mary Copy of "Diary of Thomas Roderick Dew, circa 1820-1822. Published 1983.

Belle Huntington, Her Men and Her Muse The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography Vol. 88, No. 4 (Oct., 1980), pp. 387-400

Belle Huntington, Her Men and Her Muse

The James: Where a Nation Began Notes on copies of past newspaper columns to be used in Part I of The James Book

Draft of Newport News Since World War II.

Includes interviews with Edwin Keith Phillips, Jr.; Myrtel Sud Inez Snyder Barnes; Herbert Kelley and Jerry A. Talton plus a story about Louis Drucker by Barbara Smith.

Correspondence, notes and research mostly on Williamsburg

Includes material on Lexington and Rockbridge, Virginia.

We Happy Wasps: Virginia in the Days of Jim Crow and Harry Byrd 1996 Typescript of draft of book, with notes. Includes a booklet, "Uncle Jim and Cousin Blythe" by Melville C. Branch, Jr."

We Happy Wasps: Virginia in the Days of Jim Crow and Harry Byrd

When the Yankees Came: Civil War and Reconstruction on the Virginia Peninsula (Richmond, Dietz Press, 1977) by George Benjamin West.

Richard Bland and the origins of the revolution in Virginia (Virginia in the revolution), Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission (1981) "Study of Richard Bland by Bob Detweiler" pages 1-134

Richard Bland and the origins of the revolution in Virginia (Virginia in the revolution) , Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission (1981) "Study of Richard Bland by Bob Detweiler" pages 135-261

Richard Bland and the origins of the revolution in Virginia (Virginia in the revolution) , Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission (1981) "Study of Richard Bland by Bob Detweiler" pages 262-372

Index cards, research articles, and notes.

Mostly original newspaper and magazine columns and articles written by Parke Rouse, beginning with his time in the US Navy in 1936. He wrote columns for the Richmond Times-Dispatch and later for the Daily Press and Times-Herald of Newport News, Virginia. His columns had various names over the years, but he concentrated on Virginia history, particularly Richmond, Williamsburg and area, York County, Gloucester County, Hampton and Newport News. He wrote about people, places and events from prehistoric times to the present. Many columns voiced his views on how the area had changed since his boyhood. Many columns included photographs of the people and places mentioned. Even though loosely grouped by decades, some folders may have originally been organized by subject matter. Later folders in this subseries are grouped by subject as were noted by Parke Rouse.

Material published in various publications, such as the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Newport News Times-Dispatch and the Commonwealth Magazine. Topics include local, national and war news.

Material published in various publications, such as the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Newport News Times-Dispatch and the Commonwealth Magazine. Includes column "Eminent Expatriates" in the Newport News, Virginia Times-Herald.

Material published in various publications, such as the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Newport News Times-Dispatch and the Commonwealth Magazine.

Rouse's early research for his books, columns and articles. The material is undated but compiled from the 1940's to 1960's. Alphabetical by subject. Strictly research material.

Rouse's research for his books, columns and articles. Includes correspondence, notes and research material. Also includes drafts, proofs for final projects, photographs, final articles and associated speeches. Alphabetical by subjects for articles or books, titles of articles or books, use of material (speeches, proposed) and other categories.

Story about Cornelius, the black housekeeper when he was a boy.

Includes photocopy of "Mulberry Island and the Civil War by Emma-Jo L. Davis, March 1968 and photographs of Fort Eustis.

Speech "The Peopling of Virginia" given to the Ginter Park Women's Club.

Includes a letter from Mary (Rutherfoord) Goodwin giving personal biographical notes and other sources for Rouse's research on Dr. Goodwin, dividing it into periods of Goodwin's life. She mentions personal family material that she is letting Rouse use for his book, including correspondence and diaries.

Includes brochures and publications from the 1957 and other annual celebrations of Jamestown Festival.

Includes brochures and publications from the 1957 and other annual celebrations of Jamestown Festival. Includes photographs and drafts of articles written about Jamestown. Includes a 1901 brochure, "Jamestown, The Cradle of the United States" published by the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.

Includes published articles and brochures plus typed drafts of articles.

Mostly typed drafts of articles.

Mostly typed drafts of articles with a few published copies.

Photographs, most copies from the Virginia Historical Society. Dates appear to be early to mid-1900's.

Photographs, most copies from the Virginia Historical Society, probably from the early to mid-1900's, and drafts of text for a book or article.

Includes photographs, brochures, articles and other research.

Includes photographs, brochures, articles and other research. Includes publication "50th Anniversary of Langley Air Force Base, Virginia," 1966.

Includes programs for the 1957 visit of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, 1960 memorial service for John D. Rockefeller, newspaper articles written by Rouse and others.

Includes the 1969 "A Commemorative Booklet, The Two Hundred and Seventy-Fifth Year, College of William and Mary," the 1976 "50th Anniversary Issue of The CW News," 1969 reprint from the Journal of Medical Education entitled "Medical Education at America's First University," 1951 article entitled "Origin of James City Old Stone House…" and other Williamsburg area brochures.

Photographs used for books, articles and columns. Most of the photographs are copies from organizations such as Colonial Williamsburg, Library of Virginia, Virginia Historical Society, Virginia Gazette, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Daily Press and Library of Congress, but some are copies and originals of personal photographs by local citizens. Many have typed captions glued to the bottom. Typescripts and some newspaper columns and articles are included.

Photographs of canals, bridges and boats from the Hampton Roads area and other parts of Virginia. Many include captions. Copy of Winter 1990 "The Tiller."

Typed carbon copies of articles about James River plantations and photographs of houses and other scenes from Charles City County.

Many photographs with captions. A few brochures are included.

Photographs, many with captions, about Newport News topics such as people, buildings and ships. Includes postcards of area scenes and activities.

Photographs, many with captions, about Newport News topics such as people, buildings roads, and ships.

Photographic prints of portraits, paintings and other photographs of people mentioned in Parke Rouse's books and articles. Most of the prints are of 18th and 19th century people, but some are copies of publicity photographs from the 20th century. The photographs are from Richmond Newspapers, Colonial Williamsburg, Library of Virginia, College of William and Mary, Virginia Historical Society and other repositories.

Photographs of prints of Virginia Wildlife and other subject matter.

Photographs mostly of buildings and landscapes in Virginia. Many photographs have captions.

Photographs of buildings and people from early 20th century plus prints and maps of the area

Photographs of Colonial Williamsburg costumed and administrative staff.

Photographs of dignitaries during their visits to Williamsburg and area. Includes photographs of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, President Gerald Ford, Jordan's King Hussein, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and wife opening the USO, John Hopkin's photograph of Daniel Coit Gilman and family (visited Williamsburg in 1887), Prince Charles, Winston Churchill, General Dwight Eisenhower , Queen Elizabeth and others.

Photographs of buildings, a graduation, activities, and students. Includes many photographs of the Wren Building.

Postcards of Newport News, Hampton and Phoebus, Virginia. Mid-20th century.

Bibliographic index cards for books written by Parke Rouse.

Index cards entitled "New Book Bibliography" and "Cards needed for items checked in [?]" and cards for other books. Four sets of cards divided into four boxes: 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d.

The correspondence series is divided into 2 subseries: "Letters written to Parke Rouse" and "Letters from Parke Rouse." The correspondence is further organized by year ranges, maintaining the chronological and sometimes alphabetical arrangement used by Parke Rouse.

The time period covers Rouse's childhood; his college years at Washington and Lee; his early career at the Richmond Times Dispatch; his time in the Navy during and after World War II; his later years as a successful columnist and writer; and his retirement years.

Most time periods include not only the letters that Parke Rouse received, but the letters he wrote, giving different perspectives to the events in his life.

Some correspondents from 1950-1997 include Thomas N. Allen; J. Lindsay Almond, Jr; J. Bell, Jr; Thomas C. Boushall, Carl Bridenbough; Arleigh Burke; Harry F. Byrd, Jr., Herb Caen; Mosby Cardozo; Lester J. Cappon; Leslie Cheek; Bill and Hillary Rodham Clinton, A. Christian Compton; John Warren Cooke; Virginius Dabney; John N. Dalton, Colgate W. Darden, Jr., Clifford Dowdey; John W. Elrod; Gerald R. Ford; Mills E. Godwin, Jr.; Thomas A. Graves, Jr.; Bowman Gray; Elmon T. Gray; Albertis S. Harrison, Jr.; Robert V. Hatcher; Quintin Hogg, the Lord Hailsham of St. Marleybone; Hubert H. Humphrey; Jacques Kosciusko-Morizet; William A. Lashley; Dumas Malone; Marvin Mandel; Mrs. Edward Stephens (Helen) McCarthy; Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan; Charles McDowell; Roger Mudd; Eugene Ormandy; Davis Y. Paschall; Lewis F. Powell, Jr.; O. W. (Tom) Riegel; Charles S. Robb; Winthrop Rockefeller; the Rt. Rev. David S. Rose, D.D.; Duncan Sandys; Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.; Vaughan H. Scott; William L. Scott; Arnold Eric Sevareid; William B. Spong, Jr.; Margaret Thatcher; The Times Court Circular; Clayton Torrence; Paul S. Trible, Jr.; Stewart L. Udall; John C. West; Walter Muir Whitehill; John D. Wilson; and Tom Wolfe.

Parke Rouse filed his correspondence alphabetically by correspondent. He created 6 different groups during his lifetime.

The first group begins in the 1930's and covers the time he was an undergraduate at Washington and Lee and his early jobs with the Daily Press in Newport News, Virginia and the Richmond-Times Dispatch in Richmond, Virginia. It is arranged alphabetically by correspondent.

The second group covers his work years at the Richmond-Times Dispatch and his early years in the Navy during World War II, 1941-1942. It is arranged alphabetically by correspondent.

The third group covers his time in the Navy as a Navy Ensign, then Lieutenant, beginning with training at Harvard, 1944-1945. It is arranged alphabetically by correspondent.

The fourth group covers his time in the Navy, 1944-1946. It is arranged alphabetically by correspondent.

The fifth group, which covers the years 1942-1946, is in chronological order but was probably originally in alphabetical order by correspondent. The letters had been removed from their envelopes, and with few last names on the letters, it was impossible to recreate alphabetically.

The sixth group covers 1950-1998, is in alphabetical order by correspondent and includes an index.

Letters from family members are mostly in the alphabetical groups, but are also found in the chronological group. Parke Rouse and his Mother corresponded weekly, often numbering their letters and responses. Correspondents include immediate family, other relatives, neighbors, college friends, navy friends and some business contacts. Depending on the time period, the subject matter covers social activities, news of friends and relatives, war news, and immediate family news/activities. During and immediately following World War II, the letters tell of the many different experiences from the point of view of friends, family, and community.

Letters from Margaret "Peg" Garland, Rouse's girlfriend.

Letters written by Parke Rouse to his parents, siblings, and other relatives. The time periods are the same as the letters received by Parke Rouse in subseries 1 which creates a unique opportunity to see both sides of a correspondence exchange. These letters are in chronological order.

In his early letters, Rouse writes about college social life, sport rivalries, friends, neighbors, home and relatives. He often advises his brother who is not as academically inclined as he is, even giving their Mother advice on how to motivate him. Other early letters cover his early career after college and before World War II.

Parke Rouse worked for the Richmond Times Dispatch as a reporter when he received a commission as a Navy Ensign in 1942. He trained in Boston at Harvard before being sent to Italy. His letters are censored, but he does share his Navy experiences in the United States, Europe and on the Eastern Front. He tells of home, family, college and Navy friends he encounters during his postings. He continues writing articles during this time period and often tries (and sometimes succeeds) to sell his stories to publications.

There is a gap between 1945 and 1980. The 1980 folder includes letters written by Rouse with attached replies.

The following is a timeline of where Rouse lived, worked or was posted while writing and receiving letters, highlighting some of the events and concerns in his life.

1933-36 Attends Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.

1940, 1941 Works at Richmond Times-Dispatch doing the police beat, front page stories, legislature and other things. Virginius Dabney was the editor and a mentor to Rouse.

June 1942 Brother Dashiell is in the Navy at Ft. Knox and friends are joining the military. Parke wants a Navy commission; worries about the draft; mentions blackouts and a flag speech he wrote for Langhorne.

September 1942 Receives commission as an Ensign in the Procurement Office of the Navy with training at Harvard for 6 months; writes article on fraternities which was published, but censored by Mr. Bryan. (G. Tennant Bryan)?

October 1942 Realizes he is in the Navy; tells of his courses on ships, weapons, and more; shares experiences of being in Boston.

December 1942 Mentions the Cocoanut Grove fire.

August 1943 Stationed in North Africa on the USS James O'Hara. One job he has is Postal Officer. His letters are censored, so most of them are filled with talk about his friends and free time activities.

October 16, 1943 Becomes a Lieutenant; mentions that he took part in invasion of Italy, giving some details; visits Algiers.

November 1943 Hopes to come home for leave.

April – June 1945 Assigned for shore duty with CinCPac in Honolulu, Hawaii, then at CinCPac in San Francisco.

July 25 1945 Assigned to Navy Cargo ship going to Pearl Harbor.

Early August 1945, Arrives in Hawaii, then goes immediately to Guam for "temporary duty" on the "Navy News at Guam," a Navy newspaper for troops in the Pacific; waits for news of the war; mentions that Japanese prisoners were let loose in hopes of rounding up Japanese troops living in the hills.

By the end of August Transferred to the Public Information Office. Talks of joy that the war is over; mentions that he might not have enough points to go home; tries to pull every string he can to get back stateside – his commanders, his friends in the Navy, his newspaper contacts in the Navy and United States and others. CinCPac returns to Pearl Harbor, but Rouse stays in Guam as part of ComMarianas.

While in the Pacific, Rouse describes the area, the towns, the social life, his friends and the local population. He often runs into people he knows from past postings, from home, from school and other places.

Personal papers of Parke Rouse. Includes family, business, financial and Navy papers; memorabilia; playbills from the 1930's and 1940's; material from his community participation; and material from his leadship roles in organizations such as the Colonial Records Project and Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission.

Correspondence as Director of the Virginia Independence Bicentennial Commission.

Includes receipts, paycheck stubs and insurance items.

Telegram from President John F. Kennedy saying he is pleased to hear of the observance of the 350th anniversary of Jamestown.

Correspondence about the Korean-Vietnam War History Commission as a member of the commission.

Newspaper articles, photographs and brochures. Includes a copy of "American Society of Bookplate Collectors and Designers" reprint of the work by James Hayes, Master Calligrapher, by Louis Ginsberg, published 1976. 1947 issue of the Common Glory.

Article and photograph of the Teheran Conference of the Big Three with Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill.

Publications, rosters, menus, and form letter to troops from President Roosevelt.

Vouchers, orders and related official communications.

7 stories and poems, mostly typed, about the military.

February 1943 issue of "Underway" from the Naval Training School.

Compilation of Personal Columns created by Betsy Rouse.

Photographs of Parke Rouse, most during his 20's.

List of members, office held in Pi Kappa Alpha, their addresses and places of employment.

Publications by Dietz Press promoting Rouse's books.

Correspondence to various people and businesses promoting himself, his articles and his books.

Scrapbook entitled "Virginia, the English Heritage in America" by Parke Rouse, Jr. with newspaper articles about his work.

List of names with 3 digit telephone numbers beside each name.

Sixty-four playbills from the 1930's and 1940's from theatre productions in Virginia, Boston, New York and other east coast cities.

Robert Douthat Meade research files and Simpson Family Papers.

These files included mostly photocopies and photostat copies of research material of Robert Douthat Meade. They were in 10 folders arranged in alphabetical order. Since the material was not original nor related to Parke Rouse's research, they have not been kept. A few original items have been kept: postcard of Wright Square in Savannah, Georgia; postcard of Madison Square; photograph of monument to De Kalb in Camden, South Carolina; and a portfolio of reproductions of photographs by Ken Sturgeon, staff photographer of WIS-TV, December 1969. Robert Douthat Meade was head of the History Department at Randolph Macon Woman's College. He taught Betsy Rouse who graduated from Randolph Macon in 1942. His wife, Lucy Burwell Boyd of Warrenton, North Carolina, a cousin of Betsy Rouse, gave Parke Rouse this material in case he wanted it for his research with permission to discard if not needed.

Family material given to Parke Rouse by Mrs. John Page Simpson, Jr. of Miles, Virginia. The Simpson Family is from Norfolk, Virginia with a connection to the Smith Family. Items include a 1868 May 12 letter from Covington in Columbus, Mississippi to his Mother where he notes that money and trade are scarce and he will be unable to visit because he "must economize." A 1898 May 18 letter from S.M. Smith on the USA S. Solace while at sea off the coast of Cuba to "my dear little Junior Friends," probably during the Spanish American War. He notes that his mailing address is Key West, Florida; his Mother, Mrs. M.A. Smith, lives in Auburn, North Carolina and the "Juniors" are from Berkeley (Norfolk, Virginia) where they all attended Christian Endeavor. 1913 December 6 letter from John Page Simpson, Jr. to "My dear Santa Clause" with gift requests. July 11 (no year) letter from John while at sea to his Mother in Norfolk where he mentions that he is limited in what he says because of the censors. Undated letter from John, while at Virginia Military Institute, to his Father about his schedule, his expenses (with a detailed list) and his hope his parents will visit for the Virginia game. 1985 November 13 letter from [Manbeth] Simpson to her friends about her fond memories of VMI and Virginia. 2 empty envelopes.

Biographical / historical:

http://scrc.swem.wm.edu/wiki/index.php/Parke Rouse, Jr.

Acquisition information:

Gifts: 12/1/1971; 03/01/1976; 02/21/1978; 3/22/1982; 11/17/1982; 05/19/1998; 07/07/1998; 12/16/1998; 03/01/1999 1998.19 and 1998.31 Gifts of Mrs. Parke Rouse.

Collection