Guide to the Rousseau Family Papers
Sean Heyliger
African American Museum & Library at Oakland
659 14th Street
Oakland, California 94612
Phone: (510) 637-0198
Fax: (510) 637-0204
Email: aamlo@oaklandlibrary.org
URL: http://www.oaklandlibrary.org/locations/african-american-museum-library-oakland
© 2013
African American Museum & Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.
Guide to the Rousseau Family Papers
Collection number: MS 44
African American Museum & Library at Oakland
Oakland, California
- Processed by:
- Sean Heyliger
- Date Completed:
- 06/28/2013
- Encoded by:
- Sean Heyliger
© 2013 African American Museum & Library at Oakland. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Rousseau family papers
Dates: 1904-1958
Collection number: MS 44
Creator:
Rousseau family.
Collection Size:
.1 linear feet
(1 box)
Repository:
African American Museum & Library at Oakland (Oakland, Calif.)
Abstract: The Rousseau family was a family musical ensemble consisting of husband and wife, Walter H. and Margaret Rousseau, and their
seven children: Anna E. Rousseau, James L. Rousseau, Charles P. Rousseau, Milton T. Rousseau, Margaret Rousseau, and Green
M. Rousseau. Beginning the 1910s, the family began performing at church and vaudeville theater venues throughout California,
including a four month long performance at the Panama-California International Exposition in San Diego, California in 1915-1916.
The Rousseau family papers include photographs, correspondence, and contracts that document the musical performances and business
activities of the Rousseau family.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
No access restrictions. Collection is open to the public.
Access Restrictions
Materials are for use in-library only, non-circulating.
Publication Rights
Permission to publish from the Rousseau Family Papers must be obtained from the African American Museum & Library at Oakland.
Preferred Citation
Rousseau family papers, MS 44, African American Museum & Library at Oakland, Oakland Public Library. Oakland, California.
Processing Information
Processed by Sean Heyliger, 06/28/2013.
Biography / Administrative History
The Rousseau family was a family musical ensemble consisting of husband and wife, Walter H. and Margaret Rousseau, and their
seven children: Anna E. Rousseau, James L. Rousseau, Charles P. Rousseau, Milton T. Rousseau, Margaret Rousseau, and Green
M. Rousseau. Beginning the 1910s, the family began performing at church and vaudeville theater venues throughout California,
including a four month long performance at the Panama-California International Exposition in San Diego, California in 1915-1916.
The family performed as the ‘World’s Most Famous Rousseau Family of Musicians’ and the ‘Silver Star Musical Family’ playing
an assortment of over 25 musical instruments, including the steel guitar, ukulele, mandolin, and violin.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Rousseau family papers include photographs, correspondence, and contracts that document the musical performances and business
activities of the Rousseau family. The papers consist of 21 photographs of various members of the Rousseau family, including
two group photographs from the 1920s depicting members of the Rousseau family musicians with their musical instruments. The
papers also includes letters of recommendation from theater hall managers attesting to the musical abilities of the Rousseau
family, a letter related to the Rousseau’s performance at the Panama-California International Exposition in 1916, two contracts
for performances at theaters throughout California, and W.H.H. certificate of appointment for the African Methodist Episcopal
Zion Church in El Centro, California.
Arrangement
Series I. Photographs
Series II. Correspondence
Series III. Contracts
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Rousseau family (musical group).
African American musicians--California.
African American families--California.
Photographs
Physical Description: 1 folder
Series Scope and Content Summary
Includes 21 photographs of the Rousseau family.
Arrangement
Arranged by photograph identification number.
Box 1:1
Portrait of Walter Henry Rousseau [001]
undated
Box 1:1
Portrait of the Rousseau Family with musical instruments, Los Angeles, California [002]
1924
Box 1:1
Portrait of the Rousseau Family with musical instruments, caption: ‘The World Famous Rousseau Family’ [003]
circa 1920s
Box 1:1
(Left-right): Charles Rousseau, Milton Rousseau, James Rousseau, and Walter R. Rousseau standing in front of fence [004]
circa 1920s
Box 1:1
Portrait of Anna Rousseau Knox [005]
undated
Box 1:1
Portrait of Margaret Rousseau [006]
undated
Box 1:1
Portrait of Cornelia Mason [007]
circa 1900s
Box 1:1
Portrait of Anna Mae Rousseau [008]
1923
Box 1:1
Portrait of Cornelia Blakeney Rousseau [009]
circa 1900s
Box 1:1
Portrait of William Henry Rousseau wearing Hawaiian lei [010]
circa 1920s
Box 1:1
Unidentified woman sitting on sofa [011]
circa 1950s
Box 1:1
Man and woman standing next to television [012]
1956
Box 1:1
Ella Rousseau [013]
undated
Box 1:1
Woman holding dog on front porch steps, reverse: ‘Greenie Pegeese L.A. 1955’ [014]
1955
Box 1:1
Portrait of a boy, reverse: ‘Lincoln Pegeese’ [015]
undated
Box 1:1
Soldier lying on ground aiming rifle, reverse: ‘field pack for 12 mile hike Billy’ [016]
undated
Box 1:1
Man in military uniform smoking a pipe [017]
1958
Box 1:1
Two soldiers standing in the woods [018]
1958
Box 1:1
Family leaning over concrete wall [019]
circa 1950s
Box 1:1
Photographs sitting on table in bedroom [020]
circa 1950s
Box 1:1
Portrait of Gladys Blakeney Pettis [021]
undated
Box 1:2
Correspondence
1904-1956
Physical Description: 1 folder
Series Scope and Content Summary
Includes letters of recommendation and correspondence related to the scheduling of various Rousseau family musical performances.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Box 1:3
Contracts
1920-1928
Physical Description: 1 folder
Series Scope and Content Summary
Includes two contracts for the Rousseau family to give performances in Los Angeles, California and at the Ackerman & Harris
circuit of theatres in Oakland, Sacramento, Stockton, San Francisco, Fresno, and Long Beach. Also includes a W.H.H. Rousseau's
certificate of appointment to serve as pastor of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in El Centro, Calexico, Brawley,
and Imperial, California.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
