Early life Parke S. Rouse Jr. was a native of the
Town of Smithfield. He spent most of his childhood in
Newport News, Virginia and was a 1937 graduate of
Washington and Lee University in
Lexington, Virginia.
Journalist During his early years as a journalist, prior to World War II, Rouse worked for the
Newport News Times-Herald and for the
Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Author Rouse combined his love of early Virginia history with his exceptional writing skills to produce 22 books and hundreds of newspaper columns on Virginia history, all marked by their author's innate grace, humor, and storytelling talent. Among Rouse's best-known works were a biography of
James Blair, founder and first president of the
College of William and Mary; a history of the college president's house; and a popular chronicle of
Williamsburg's history before and during its restoration as
Colonial Williamsburg by
John D. Rockefeller Jr.,
Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, and the Reverend Dr.
W.A.R. Goodwin.
Colonial Williamsburg In 1953, Parke Rouse became director of publications for the
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and worked closely with eventual president and chairman of the Foundation,
Carlisle H. Humelsine. a post he held for 26 years until his retirement. ==Partial bibliography==