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John E. Rouse papers, 1912-1987

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Rouse, John E.
Title
John E. Rouse papers
Dates
1912-1987 (inclusive)
Quantity
45 cubic ft. (68 document boxes, 4 slim document boxes, 1 F17, 2 F24, 4 F41, 3 record boxes)
Collection Number
09913
Summary
Collection contains materials relating to John E. Rouse’s work in the petroleum industry, the Petroleum Administration for War and his research on cattle breeds. The collection includes reports, maps and miscellaneous subject files for Standard Oil Company of Indiana (1919-1953); reports, maps, correspondence, memorandums, and newsclippings dealing with his work with the Petroleum Administration for War, which includes information on U.S. Navy bases at home and abroad, and photographs of daily life on the bases (1941-1953); and cattle research files containing publications, notes, correspondence, and photographs on cattle breeds.
Repository
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions
Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
The creation of the EAD-version of this finding aid was made possible through a grant from the National Historic Publications and Records Commission.
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Historical Note

Rouse was born on September 18, 1892, in Denver, Colorado. He completed high school in1909 and entered Brown University. There he studied mechanical engineering and received his Bachelor of Science in 1913. He then went to work for the Standard Oil Company refinery in Bayonne, New Jersey. By 1914, he moved to Trinidad, Colorado, to work with the Continental Oil Company as a salesman and then as an assistant refinery superintendent. In 1918 Rouse joined the Midwest Refining Company, which later was taken over by the Standard Oil Company of Indiana, as superintendent of the lubricating department. He eventually became assistant general manager of manufacturing. He was also the general superintendent of the refinery and in 1931 was named the manager of the Rocky Mountain division.

In 1943, Rouse became the district director of construction for the Petroleum Administration for War. In 1944 he worked with the Navy Department Secretary’s committee on Public Works Projects. Rouse became the manager of the manufacturing department at Stanolind Oil & Gas Company in 1945. He later became the vice president of that company in 1953. In 1957 he became president of the Utah Southern Oil Company.

In addition to his work in the oil industry, Rouse held a life long interest in the cattle industry. He bought a 320-acre farm near Genoa, Illinois, in 1932 and later, in 1955, after his retirement, he traded this farm for an Angus-stocked ranch in Wyoming. In the early 1960s Rouse began work on a comprehensive, illustrated study of cattle breeds of world. The book covered cattle breeds, raising methods, slaughtering and marketing practices, and various curiosities. Starting in 1963, Rouse visited 72 nations and every continent of the globe.

Rouse married Bess Archer on August 28, 1916, and they had two children together, John Taylor and Martha. They were later divorced. He married Roma McCormick in 1956. John E. Rouse died on November 27, 1990.

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Content Description

The John E. Rouse papers, 1912-1987, mainly contain materials relating to his work in the oil industry, his involvement with the Petroleum for War Administration during World War II, and his research on cattle for publication.

The oil industry papers relate to the companies that Rouse worked with during his career as an oil man. There are reports from test wells, company publications dealing with policies, photos, newsletters, speeches, newspaper clippings, and data books.

Because of Rouse’s military involvement during World War II with the Petroleum for War Administration, there are committee and sub-committee reports, various reports from both the department of the Navy and the U.S.A.F., maps of naval bases in both the United States and the Pacific, numerous photos of bases and refineries, correspondence with various members of the committees and sub-committees, and memorandums. While most of the photos are of the physical buildings and facilities of the bases and refineries, there are several photos of everyday life included. Of particular interest in this series are the various newspapers and newsletters that Rouse collected from the bases in the United States and the Pacific because of the unique information and viewpoints they contain. There are several full sections of newspapers from Sydney, Australia, from August of 1945 that show the way the ending of WWII was reported on in Australia.

The cattle research files are background materials that Rouse collected for his three volume work World Cattle. There are mainly publications from the various countries that Rouse visited. There is an extensive collection of cattle photos taken by Mrs. Roma Rouse that is indexed and cross-referenced. The rough drafts frequently contain correspondence. Rouse asked many of his contacts in other countries to critique his work and make suggestions. This series also contains travel records and bills.

There are also publications by Rouse and other authors included. The series on Rouse’s college papers are mainly the homework and notes from various mechanical engineering classes he took. In addition, there is a correspondence course from Columbia University on story writing. There are exercises, responses to Rouse’s work, and copies of Rouse’s questions.

This collection focuses mainly on Rouse’s professional life while leaving his personal life vague. There are references to his personal life in the various correspondence files throughout the collection.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Preferred Citation

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, John E. Rouse papers, 1912-1987, Collection Number 09913, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

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Administrative Information

Related Materials

Related Materials

There are no other known archival collections created by John E. Rouse at the date of processing.

Acquisition Information

Acquisition Information

The John E. Rouse papers, 1912-1987, were given to the American Heritage Center by Mrs. Roma Rouse, Rouse’s wife, in 1992. They were received in good condition.

Processing Note

Processing Information

The collection was processed by Jennifer Williams in January 1999. The materials were arranged for research use. Since there was no original order, the materials were arranged in series. Where original folder titles existed, they were maintained, where none existed, descriptive ones were created.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Container List

Processed by Jennifer Williams
2006

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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