Los Angeles County
Biographies
MRS.
LAFAYETTE S. ROUNSAVELLE
Mrs. Lafayette S. Rounsavelle, of Los Angeles, who bore the maiden name of Gertrude H. Lauerwaas, has been closely connected with much important club and civic work and today is president of the Los Angeles Tenth District of the California Congress of parents and Teachers. A native of the city in which she still resides, Gertrude H. Hauerwaas was born January 20, 1892, a daughter of John Anton and Lucy Marie (Preston) Hauerwaas. Her father was born in Hofheim, Wurzburg, Germany, February 10, 1864, and the mother’s birth occurred in Los Angeles, California, December 10, 1871.
The daughter obtained her education in the public schools of her native city, attending successively kindergarten, the elementary grades and the high school. She has ever been keenly interested in educational work and on the 1st of July, 1935, entered upon a four years’ term as member of the Los Angeles board of education. She has been helpfully allied with the Parent-Teacher movement, was a director of child welfare of the Los Angeles Tenth District of the California Congress of parents and Teachers from 1930 to 1934 and in the latter year was elected to the district presidency, so that she now has an organization having sixty-five thousand two hundred and seventy members. Mrs. Rounsavelle also belongs to the Californiana chapter of the Native Daughters of the Golden West, to the Woman’s City Club and to the American Women, Inc., of which she is second vice president for the year 1935-36. She is likewise connected with the Eastern Start and her political allegiance is given to the republican party.
On the 27th of October, 1912, in Los Angeles, Gertrude H. Hauerwaas became the wife of Lafayette S. Rounsavelle, who was born in Philadelphia, April 26, 1884. He, too, is well known in club circles, being a charter member of the Los Angeles Optimist Club and a member of the Jonathan Club. In Masonry he has attained high rank, belonging to the Southern California Lodge, while for the year 1835-36 he is potentate of Al Malaikah Temple of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. and Mrs. Rousavelle have a son and a daughter: John Richard, who was born August 22, 1914, and is a junior in the University of Southern California; and Marjorie, born January 27, 1919, and now a junior in the Los Angeles high school. Mrs. Rounsavelle is a Lutheran. She has always occupied an enviable position in the social circles of the city, while her worth in relation to the public life of the community is widely acknowledged. She has been a close student of every phase of those activities which have claimed her interest and attention, and while guided by high ideals she has utilized the most practical methods for their fulfillment. She has been a zealous supporter of educational and cultural work and her efforts have indeed been far-reaching and resultant. At the meeting of the Board of Education, July 1, 1935, Mrs. Rounsavelle was elected president of that body by unanimous vote. This is the first time in history that any woman has been elected to such a position in any metropolitan city in the United States.
Transcribed 1-19-13 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: California
of the South Vol. V, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages
599-600, Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2013 Marilyn R. Pankey.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES
BIOGRAPHIES