Sainsbury Family; Sainsbury's Director; arts patron
The second son of John Benjamin Sainsbury, Robert James read history at Pembroke College, Cambridge, then studied accountancy, later becoming a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Joining the family firm in 1930, Robert James become joint General Manager alongside his brother Alan (later Lord Sainsbury) on his father's illness and retirement. He took particular responsibility for personnel and administration, and had a genius for solving personnel issues and making changes amenable to the company's staff.
Alongside his career with Sainsbury's, he is best known as a major patron of the arts. He was an early supporter of artists Henry Moore, Francis Bacon, Pablo Picasso, Amedeo Modigliani and Charles Despiau, and later Giacometti. He was particularly supportive of African works of art, first encountered on a trip to Paris in 1935, and was an early patron of the National Art Collections Fund.
Robert James was a major philanthropist, making donations to hospitals and to Kew Gardens. In 1973 he donated his large art collection (of more than 400 works) to the University of East Anglia, where they commissioned the then-little known architect Norman Foster to design an art gallery. In 1979 the Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts was opened.
Robert James was knighted for services to the arts in 1967.
P/274
1906- 2000
Waverley, 33 Eton Avenue, Hampstead, London
Related content
-
Image included in 'JS Journal' June-July 1966, p.4, with the caption "Mr. R. J. Sainsbury holding hand of his grandson, James Clark, and talking to Lord Sainsbury. Between them is Gertrude Hermes, sculptor and engraver, who lives in Chelsea. In the left background, Mr. R. J.'s daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Clark, is talking with Mr. Timothy Sainsbury." Image probably by Brian Shuel.
Image of joint general manager Robert James Sainsbury outside 122 King's Road, Chelsea branch on opening day
SA/BRA/7/C/14/2/60
-
Shows, from left to right, Elizabeth Clark (Robert James Sainsbury's daughter), Robert James Sainsbury (holding hand of his grandson James Clark), Gertrude Hermes (sculptor and engraver), and Celia Sainsbury[?] (Robert James Sainsbury's daughter). Image probably by Brian Shuel.
Image of joint general manager Robert James Sainsbury entering 122 King's Road, Chelsea branch on opening day
SA/BRA/7/C/14/2/61
-
Shows Robert James Sainsbury and daughter Celia Sainsbury[?] holding hands of Robert James Sainsbury's grandson James Clark. Also shows Lord Sainsbury of Drury Lane (Alan Sainsbury, chairman of Sainsbury's) in background. Image probably by Brian Shuel.
Image of joint general manager Robert James Sainsbury in 122 King's Road, Chelsea branch on opening day
SA/BRA/7/C/14/2/63
-
Image included in 'JS Journal' December 1969, p.13. Image probably by Brian Shuel.
Image of joint presidents Sir Robert Sainsbury and Alan Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Drury Lane in 330 Northolt Road, Harrow branch on its opening day
SA/BRA/7/H/15/5/10
-
Photograph showing members of the Sainsbury family who were directors of the Sainsbury's business at Chelsea branch. The family directors visited the store to be photographed for a Sunday Times magazine article on the centenary of the business - that photograph (see SA/FAM/10/2/4) showed the family directors at each of the checkouts. Brian Shuel (photographing on behalf of Sainsbury's) took pictures of the directors arriving in the store, walking around it and chatting with each other, and of the photograph at the checkouts being taken. Photograph by Brian Shuel (reference SO11 frame [36?]).
Image of Sainsbury family directors at Chelsea branch: Robert, Alan, and John Davan Sainsbury
SA/FAM/10/2/24
-
Photograph taken at Lord Sainsbury of Drury Lane's 80th birthday dinner held at the Dorchester. The event was attended by Sainsbury's directors (including members of the Sainsbury family) and some retired senior managers and directors. Photographer's reference number 2509/1/8A.
Image of Lord Alan Sainsbury's 80th birthday dinner: James Sainsbury and Robert Sainsbury
SA/FAM/3/33/4/34
-
Photograph taken at Lord Sainsbury of Drury Lane's 80th birthday dinner held at the Dorchester. The event was attended by Sainsbury's directors (including members of the Sainsbury family) and some retired senior managers and directors. Caption on back of print identifies guests as: "L-R Mr RJ [Robert Sainsbury], Max Justice, retired director and current president of the veterans association and Jim Woods, retired senior manager." Photographer's reference number 2509/3/4.
Image of Lord Alan Sainsbury's 80th birthday dinner: Sir Robert Sainsbury, Max Justice and Jim Woods
SA/FAM/3/33/4/52
-
A Cheese sampler belonging to Robert Sainsbury. The handle consists of dark wooden ends inserted into a brass grip. The tang of the sampler is inserted into the grip. Upon the tang are inscribed 'HERBERTS & SONS, WEST SMITHFIELD'. On the reverse of the tang is written within an oval, 'HISLOP, EDINb' next to this are '2F'. The sampler is placed within a leather holder to protect it. At the open end there is a number '2' embossed. The sheath has been shaped to hold the sampler.
Cheese sampler
SA/FAM/4/1
-
Includes black and white photographs of Robert, Alan and John Davan Sainsbury handing out pieces of the centenary cake to customers. Also includes black and white photographs of a banquet at the Savoy, a press lunch at the Savoy and the Design Centre exhibition. Also contains colour transparencies of the Bistro Kids and Hugon's Atora trade mark used on pages 50 - 51 of JS 100: The story of Sainsbury's. There are also two black and white photographs of the centenary logo on Sainsbury's lorries.
Images of Sainsbury's centenary (1969) celebrations, and images used in 'JS 100...' book
SA/HIS/JS100/IMA/4
-
2 copies of a transcript with either Alan or Robert Sainsbury (1950s); draft policy (1960s); Memo from Group Administration on behalf of the Chairman to Senior Managers, Depots and Branches concerning market share (12 April 1995).
Interview transcript, draft policy, agreement and memo
SA/HIST/1/31
-
Some of the photographs feature in JS Journal April 1965 "News & Developments". Includes photographs featuring Lord Sainsbury of Drury Lane, Mr R.J. Sainsbury, and David Sainsbury (later Lord Sainsbury of Turville). Includes: 3-7: Lord Sainsbury of Drury Lane welcoming shoppers 14: David Sainsbury 16: David Sainsbury (back) and Mr R.J. Sainsbury (front) 26: Mr W. Hedges (Area Superintendent) with Mr H. Wright (Assistant Manager) 28: Mr R. Saville (Assistant Manager) 29-33: Mr D. Barclay (Spare Manager)
Images of 54/55 Chapel Market, Islington branch on opening day
SA/IMA/4/SG/18
-
Includes photographs of Sainsbury's Low Fat Yogurt display, staff, customers, and J.D., Alan and R.J. Sainsbury chatting in the branch.
Images of Kentish Town (217/23 Kentish Town Road) branch
SA/IMA/4/SP/25
-
Contains: 1. photocopy of small leaflet explaining Sainsbury's scheme for the fair distribution of certain 'short supply' foods, 2. damaged photograph of Miss Evelyn Boxhall posing as a customer with a ration book, 3-4. informative newspaper advertisements entitled 'At any Sainsbury's during registration' (n.d.) and 'Sainsbury's say it again' (1940), 5. photograph of 'emergency shop' van, 6. photocopy of newspaper article about Sainsbury's entitled 'Sold too much meat - firm is fined' (1941), 7. Air Raids Precautions Certificate issued to Mr G.H. Marshall by Sainsbury's (July 1939), 8-9. Food Control Committee 'Certificate of Registration' (1939) and Ministry of Food 'Licence to Sell Foodstuffs by Retail' (1941) for D. Hutchings, Branch Manager of 245 Lower Addiscombe Road, Addiscombe, Croydon, 1950 Branch Rationing Guide, newspaper cutting and image reporting that a store in North London was forced to improvise after it was bombed and served its customers from a counter in the road (1940), recipe for Almond Icing 'tested and recommended by Sainsbury's' (2 x copies) J. Sainsbury Ration Card (1946), J. Sainsbury's Ration Card, three J. Sainsbury Ration Cards (butter, sugar and meat), newspaper cuttings recording attack by Cassandra of the Daily Mail on Sainsbury's who were fined £360 with £10.10s costs for 18 meat rationing offences, and Mr Alan's reply, photocopy of staff circular to all members on National Service (1942), photocopy of wartime wages notice to Branch staff (1941), photocopy of letter from Mr Alan and Mr R.J. to K. Boston, Manager of 159 Queen's Crescent (1939) congratulating stafff on their efforts at securing and effecting registrations and awarding them a £5 cheque (attached to photocopy of a circular for noticeboards giving details of prizes for Registration achievements). 1989 commemorative newspaper pull-out 'Sussex at Peace 1946-51' with article entitled 'Another queue! Here we go again' that refers to Sainsbury's, documentation regarding the Firm's support for the Royal Air Forces Association 'Wings Appeal' on the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Britain (2000?), letter from H.W. Younger to Brian Shuel giving description of Stamford House during wartime extract from wartime memoirs concerning shopping at Sainsbury's Ealing branch during the blitz (1940-1941). newspaper cutting of illustration of horse-drawn vehicle in front of Sainsbury shop entitled: "Every provision shop is a Minister of Food, but transport problems often arise...", photocopy of newspaper article regarding fire destroying many tons of food belonging to Sainsbury's at Saffron Walden (1941), Policy of Insurance for Business Scheme forms (War Damage Act, 1941), form for renewal of insurance under the Business Scheme as from 1 April 1944, War Risks Insurance Policy for the Firm and related documentation including records of sums paid to Westminster Fire Office, newspaper report regarding the courts' imposition of a fine on J. Sainsbury for supplying butter without a coupon at the Angel Lane branch, Stratford; newspaper announcement and image of bomb damage to business premises opposite Eastbourne branch, magazine article comparing food prices in 1958 to those in 1998, letter from Ministry of Food regarding the decentralisation of depot work (1952) [does not relate to Second World War, see date, instead presumably relates to Cold War fears of nuclear attack] letters and photograph from cashier transferred to East Grinstead after branch was bombed decoration belonging to W.E. Adams, photocopies of a photograph of the Home Guards belonging to J. Sainsbury with letter and labels idenitifying a number of the men, transcript of conversation with Alan Kettley, veteran (1995) Sainsbury Ration Card and information card about Sainsbury's Scheme for the Fair Distribution of Certain 'Short Supply' Foods, handwritten notebook detailing wartime ration allowances and Sainsbury's systems, 1945 Branch Rationing Guide, 15. letter to Sir Henry Piggott from Mr R.J. concerning railway transport, Move to SA/EMP/5: 2. letter from Staff Department asking relative for the present address of a member of staff absent on National Service, 4. copy of letter to all Relief and Branch Managers informing them that the Firm would be appointing a small number of women Managers and enquiring whether Relief and Branch Managers would be willing to transfer if offered a vacant managerial position at another branch, 20. memo to Catford branch manager advising of wage increase to be awarded to those women who have successfully passed the course of lectures at Blackfriars and are awaiting appointment as Deputy Managers or Managers, and letters to proposed new female Branch Manager regarding an increase in her salary; 21. letter of thanks and appreciation to female Branch Manager for all her work during wartime, 22. 'update' letters from the Firm to a male member of staff (Mr Croft) on National Service in India, letter to Mr Croft's wife informing her that the couple had received a temporary National Service allowance and that the Firm would be willing to offer her a position with them, letters arranging Mr Croft's re-employment with the Firm, his being selected for attendance on National Service Refresher Course and his transfer to the Bognor District, 31. letter offering a former member of female staff the possibility of re-engagement (1940), 26. programme for training course for Manageresses, 36. letter from Alan Sainsbury to Mrs E. Shepperd complimenting her 'aptitude and enthusiasm' and offering her a promotion, following a period of training at Blackfriars [head office] (25 Apr 1941)/
Material relating to World War Two
SA/WAR/2/2
-
Photograph of a visit to the site of a new shopping precinct on Kings Road, Chelsea by the judges of a competition for a piece of sculpture for the precinct. The precinct included a new Sainsbury's branch (122 King's Road). The judges were Mr R.J. Sainsbury, Henry Moore, and Sir Roland Penrose. They were accompanied on the visit by the architect for the development, Mr N.G.E. Turner. A work by John Wragg was selected as the winning entry. Pictured on the photo: Mr R.J. Sainsbury (facing against the camera), Henry Moore (opposite Mr Sainsbury facing the camera), and Sir Roland Penrose (looking through the fence). See 'JS Journal' March/April 1966 page 1 to 3 for more information.
Image of visit to 122 King's Road, Chelsea branch construction site
SA/BRA/7/C/14/2/2
-
Photograph taken at Kentish Town branch, presumably 217-223 Kentish Town Road on its opening day. Image by Brian Shuel, reference SP27.
Image of 217-223 Kentish Town Road, Kentish Town branch: president Alan Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Drury Lane, chairman Sir Robert Sainsbury and vice-chairman John Davan Sainsbury
SA/BRA/7/K/4/6/7