Charles Broadway Rouss Collection

304 WFCHS

Inventory created by Archives Staff 01/1988. Last revised 05/2018.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: Collection is open to all researchers.

USE RESTRICTIONS: Restrictions may apply concerning the use, photoduplication, or publication of items in this collection. Consult a member of the archives staff for information concerning these restrictions. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright.

EXTENT: 0.67 linear feet

DATE: 1836-1990

SCOPE AND CONTENT: This collection contains articles, correspondence, and biographies pertaining to Charles B. Rouss including his will and obituary.

BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL: Charles Broadway Rouss was born to Peter H. Rouss and Belinda Baltzell near Woodville, MD on February 11, 1836. In 1841 his family moved to Berkeley County, WV and in 1849 purchased a farm called Runnymeade. He attended school at Winchester Academy. In 1851 Rouss took a job with Jacob Senseny in his general store, and remained there until 1854 when, at age 18, he opened his own store. His business was an instant success, and by 1854 he was doing $1,000 per week. On August 26, 1856, he married Margaret Keenan and had three children. In 1862, he moved his business to Richmond. During the Civil War he left his business and joined the 12^th Virginia Cavalry. He lost his entire fortune. In 1866, he went to New York and continued to go deeper into debt until 1875 when he was imprisoned for debt. Success later found Rouss as he opened a chain of retail stores in 1890 and published the “Rouss Auction Trade Journal”. Rouss gave generously to Winchester and other towns and relief projects during his life. He died on March 3, 1902.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Quarles, Garland R., Some Worthy Lives. Winchester, VA: Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society, 1988.

CITE AS: Rouss, Charles Broadway Collection 304 THL/WFCHS, Stewart Bell Jr. Archives, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA

ORGANIZATION:

BOX 1

Articles, 4 items, printed, typescript

Battle Abbey, 3 items, typescript, printed

Confederate Carpetbagger – by Daniel E. Sutherland, excerpts from book, pgs. 156-169; 290-3; 318-9; 322-3, 10 leaves, printed (photocopy)

Correspondence – Charles Broadway Rouss to Scovill Manufacturing Co., Waterbury, CT, December 24, 1890, 1 item, typescript/manuscript

Correspondence - Charles Broadway Rouss to Holmes Conrad, August 3, 1894, 1 leaf, typescript

Correspondence, Charles Broadway Rouss to Mr. H. C. Baker, 1889, 1896, 2 leaves, typescript

Correspondence - Peter B. Rouss to P. B. Boyd, Esquire,1902, mourning note of thanks,
1 leaf, manuscript;1 envelope, typescript

McCracken, A.V. Life of Charles Broadway Rouss. No date, 3 copies, 36 pages, printed; 1 photocopy

Buckland, EricW., ed. The Millionaire Mosby Ranger: Charles Broadway Rouss. That Fateful Night Press, 2010, 36 pages, printed

Mt. Hebron Cemetery, Winchester - inscriptions on tablets in the Rouss mausoleum, 1951, 1 leaf, typescript

Mt. Hope Cemetery, New York, 5 items, printed, typescript (photocopy)

News Articles

Obituary of Charles Broadway Rouss, March 3, 1902 and related articles in Winchester Evening Star, 10 leaves, printed (photocopy)

Old Jake Replica Installation—remarks by Harry F. Byrd; May 21, 2011, 2 leaves, typescript

Rouss Racket Store, Leesville, LA—4 leaves, printed (photocopy)

Program Menu – Annual Celebration of the Birthday of Charles Broadway Rouss, February 11, 1898, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1917, 5 items, 4 pages each, printed

Rouss, Peter Winchester - "The Commuters, Yachts in a Hurry," by C. Philip Moore, article in Wooden Boat, June 1990, describing Rouss' yacht Winchester IV, 2 copies, 12 leaves, printed (photocopy)

Will - Charles Broadway Rouss, 1898, 30 leaves, manuscript/typescript (photocopy)

Charles Broadway Rouss Day – A community celebration, began in 2009, held annually in Winchester, Virginia, 1 leaf, typescript

BOX 2

Business catalogue - The Rouss Company, 1899, 1 item, 72 pages, printed

Business catalogue – 1907,Charles Broadway Rouss Wholesale Auction Dry Goods Company, New York, New York,  1 item, 120 pages, printed

PHOTOGRAPHS:

Photographs and other images belonging to this collection may be accessed online through http://handley.pastperfectonline.com