Creation of the Trusts

Dated 29 December 1904 Joseph’s Founder’s Memorandum set out his vision for the three Trusts that he founded and this remains a principle source of advice and inspiration to their Trustees today. “It is frequently and truthfully said that money is best spent by persons during their lifetime. I have in the past, according to my power, endeavoured to act in remembrance of this. Considerably larger means have, however, come to me in later life, and the practical question was presented to me: How can this property be applied in the future so as to secure equal results to those which might have been obtained had I had the administration of it over a lengthened period? It is a matter of great satisfaction to me that these Trusts have been established with the cordial assent of my wife and children.”

Founder’s memorandum

Joseph Rowntree’s 1904 Founder’s Memorandum established the three Rowntree Trusts which continue to operate today. Joseph laid out his philosophy and approach: “I feel that much of the current philanthropic effort is directed to remedying the more superficial manifestations of weakness or evil, while little thought or effort is directed to search out their underlying causes. Obvious distress or evil generally evokes so much feeling that the necessary agencies for alleviating it are pretty adequately supported….The Soup Kitchen in York never has difficulty in obtaining adequate financial aid, but an enquiry into the extent and causes of poverty would enlist little support.” Fundamentally, Joseph wished to address the root causes of poverty and to find solutions.

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

The Story of York Adult Schools

The Society of Friends understood the importance of adult education. Joseph taught in York’s adult schools for most of his life and wrote the introduction to The Story of the York Adult Schools stating that their aim was “to bring Christianity as an active, practical force, into daily life in the home, the workshop, in the area of citizenship.” It was Joseph and his brother John who took a leading role in renting a room behind the Rowntree premises in Lady Peckett’s Yard and moving the men’s class there in 1857. Later in his life Joseph wrote: “Among the influences for which I have to be thankful there are few more powerful than those which came to me as an adult school teacher. It is a great blessing for a young fellow fresh from school to have the opportunity of meeting week after week with a number of men seeking to improve themselves mentally and spiritually, and to live worthy lives.”

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.

Land reform

Both Joseph and Seebohm backed proposals for land reform as they believed that land in the hands of a few individuals was one of the key causes of the proliferation of slums. Joseph specifically referred to this issue in his Founder’s Memorandum. They stopped short of recommending the nationalisation of land but suggested the taxation of land values or the appropriation of unearned profits from development. The Joseph Rowntree Village Trust was an early pioneer of the movement for land reform. New Earswick Garden Village, created from Joseph’s vision of establishing improved housing for working people in York, still attracts attention and remains a focus for housing debate today.

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.

Oscar Rowntree

Oscar was the youngest of Joseph’s sons and was a director of Rowntree & Co from 1905. He was active in the Liberal Party for many years, including a period as chairman of the York and Thirsk division of the Liberal Association. Oscar served as a councillor for Castlegate ward in York from 1905, taking a strong interest in social affairs and became an alderman in 1920 and Lord Mayor in 1926/27. Like his brothers he was actively involved with the three Rowntree trusts and, like his father, he was a member of the Committee of Friends of the Retreat. He was a member of the Health and Housing Reform Association set up to spread knowledge about health and sanitation in York and so improve health conditions in homes. He also farmed extensively at Brandsby near York in addition to his roles in the family business and in civic life.

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

Company doctor and dentist

Rowntrees were also keen to ensure that their workers were in good health, believing that their company would be most successful if staffed by workers who were physically fit . In 1904 a doctor was employed to offer free advice to all employees. This innovation was followed by a dentist department with a resident dentist. There was a strict screening process on eyesight, dental hygiene and personal cleanliness relative to factory jobs from the point at which workers were hired. A psychologist was also employed and social workers appointed to oversee the general well-being of the workers. This latter innovation began when large numbers of girls started working at the factory from the age of 14 and Joseph felt that they needed a female figure of authority to look up to. In a pioneering move he appointed a woman experienced in the social activities of the Adult School movement to be a welfare worker.

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

After hours activities

By 1898 all of Rowntree’s production had moved to the new Cocoa Works factory and Joseph focused his attention on improving the overall lives of his workers. Influenced by the emphasis placed on leisure activities during his schooldays and Quaker beliefs regarding the importance of education and welfare, facilities for recreational and educational activities were provided at the factory complex. A busy social scene developed created by a range of after-hours activities for all interests. These included singing classes, football and cricket teams and book appreciation societies. The Cocoa Works had its own brass band and it’s own theatre company – The Rowntree Players. Many of these activities featured regularly in the Cocoa Works Magazine.