Background
Charles M. Rousseau was born in 1848 Rotterdam in the Netherlands. In 1870 he migrated to America.
Charles M. Rousseau was born in 1848 Rotterdam in the Netherlands. In 1870 he migrated to America.
After several years in St. Louis, he went to New York in 1881 and for the ensuing six years served as draftsman with the firm of McKim, Mead & White.
Following his arrival in San Francisco in 1886, Mr. Rousseau entered the office of A. Page Brown and worked there until 1890 when he started practice under his own name. Among his early works in the city were a number of two-story flats, and after the turn of the century he designed apartment houses of more modern type.
During the latter years of his practice Mr. Rousseau carried on work in association with his son Alfred (died 1941), and following the earthquake and fire the firm of Rousseau & Rousseau was active in reconstruction work, also was commissioned to design a number of hotels and apartment houses, including the Chancellor, Gartland, Haddon Hall, and various other buildings.