Strong Family Ties

“One of the things for which we have to be thankful is the strength of the family bond. As men and women grow older, living perhaps quite apart, with different interests and it may be with intellectual differences, there is a danger that the family ties may become weak. I have rejoiced that it has not been so in your case. The family tie is one which it is worth some pains to keep strong. It is a great strength to men or women to know that however misunderstood they may be, or however they may be experiencing some of the rough buffetings of this world, they can always count upon the support, the fair judgement and the love of the family circle.”

Extract from Joseph’s letter – TO MY CHILDREN – May 23, 1916

Image: From originals held at the Borthwick Institute for Archives.

Agnes Macdonald (nee Rowntree)

Agnes Macdonald (nee Rowntree), Joseph’s daughter spoke about her father’s love of nature and strong Quaker faith at his death. “His deep love of nature was with him to the end. Every morning he asked us if the birds were singing, and if we could see them on the lawn. Several times too, he recalled his Saturdays at Scarborough, saying how much he had enjoyed the companionship of friends at the Cocoa Works. My father very seldom talked about his religious faith; he only lived it; but we shall never forget how clearly it shone, lighting up the valley of the shadow of death.”

Image: From originals held at the Borthwick Institute for Archives.

Fred Rowntree

Fred Rowntree was a member of the Scarborough branch of the Rowntree family. He was an architect and closely associated with the Arts and Crafts movement. He played a key role in creating the enduring built environment in York pioneered by the family and was involved in design and building projects at the Cocoa Works; the Homestead; Rowntree Park; Yearsley Swimming Baths and Bootham and the Mount Schools. His company were also appointed architects to the West China Union University in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.

Joseph’s Views on Wealth

In 1907 Joseph wrote to his children about the opportunities of wealth to contribute to public life and also the dangers associated with it. His Quaker principles and experience of life led him to state that “the observation of a lifetime has led to the belief that any considerable amount of wealth more often proves to be a curse rather than a blessing…… The great advantage, and perhaps the real justification of wealth is, that it adds to the potential power of a person’s usefulness.”

He was particularly concerned that his grandchildren did not adopt unfortunate habits having been brought up in a wealthy family, warning against self-indulgence and emphasising Quaker values of simplicity and of ensuring that personal expenditure allowed for support to the needs of others who were less well off than themselves: “what is much needed at the present time is, that educated men and women who are able to command considerable leisure, should apply their powers directly towards this amelioration of the appalling social evils which exist in this country.”

Michael Rowntree

Michael Rowntree, great-nephew of Joseph, had a lifelong love of natural history and the environment, especially birding – interests he shared with his great-uncle. He led a full life of public service despite his unassuming character, sharing the Quaker faith and principles of Joseph and other Rowntree family members. During World War Two he was a conscientious objector (pacifist principles meant that Quakers did not fight) and served in the Friends Ambulance Unit in Finland, the Middle East and Germany. After the war his first career was in newspapers and in the 1950s he became general manager of the Oxford Mail and Oxford Times. Michael held a number of senior roles in Oxfam, including that of Chairman from 1971 to 1977, and was a Trustee of both the JRCT and JRSST. He was also an advocate for the National Health Service serving on both Oxford Hospitals and Scarborough Health Authority’s governing bodies.

The Borthwick Institute for Archives

The Borthwick Institute for Archives holds the largest collection of Rowntree archives in the world. These include records relating to the Rowntree company, family, Trusts and theatre as well as records relating to the family’s social research. The archives include letters and diaries; minute books; accounts; magazines; advertisements; audio and video recordings and photographs. The Borthwick was founded as part of the campaign to establish a university in York. The Borthwick Institute of Historical Research was the first of the institutes to be opened in May 1953 and it became a department of the university when it opened in 1963. The Borthwick moved to its current location adjacent to the Raymond Burton Library at the centre of the university campus in 2004 and opened to the public in January 2005.

Arnold Rowntree

Arnold Rowntree was Joseph’s nephew and invited by him to join the cocoa and chocolate business in 1891. He was a director of Rowntree and Co. from 1891 to 1941. Arnold led a full life, leading the Rowntree family interest in newspapers and becoming a trustee of all three Rowntree trusts. Like other family members he was involved in education, teaching at the Leeman Road adult school and, for some time before his marriage, living in the area to better understand the men’s background and interests. He was MP for York from 1910 to 1918 and championed the cause of conscientious objectors during the First World War, enduring fierce local criticism. His endeavours to create opportunities for service for young male Friends led to the establishment of the Friends’ Ambulance Unit. He was a keen walker, horse-rider and cricketer, having inherited the family love of the outdoors which he passed on to his son, Michael. He was also chair of the Allotments Movement until his death.

Image: From originals held at the Borthwick Institute for Archives.

Politics vs Philanthropy

The attitude of Joseph and other Rowntree family members towards politics and democratic reform in the light of their focus on philanthropy is an interesting one. Joseph is generally considered to have been a loyal Liberal party man but he rarely took an active interest in politics and, when he did, it was mainly on a local level in York. The First Step was a rare foray into the forum of public politics and may be seen more as a practical step towards securing his social vision than an overtly political move. The traditional Quaker commitment to philanthropy and to peace and temperance perhaps limited Rowntree enthusiasm for more radical democratic reform as did their wholehearted support for and interest in education.

Joseph’s politics and House of Lords reform

Joseph was a life-long Liberal and was active in Liberal politics in York. He founded its local association and held the office of Chairman for a significant time. In his youth he admired Liberal statesman and future Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone. His radical ideas came to the fore in 1907 when he wrote a pamphlet entitled The First Step which advocated House of Lords reform. He argued that the House of Lord’s right to veto bills sent up to them by the House of Commons should be abolished. This would be a preliminary step to reform with Joseph favouring an elected chamber based on proportional representation.

Image: From originals held at the Borthwick Institute for Archives.

Love of Children

Aside from his creation of the global enterprise that was Rowntree & Co. Ltd and his philanthropic activities, Joseph was very much a family man. “His love for children was continually apparent. He was delighted with the greetings from his grandchildren on his birthday and Christmas Day, and was most punctilious in answering each letter promptly. His replies generally contained some reference to the birds or wild flowers, or the signs of the season in his own garden. He was anxious for the children to make friends with his own constant friend, Nature.” – Joseph’s secretary, Miss A. Baker, in her tribute to him on his passing.