Robert G. James Lounge

The Robert G. James Lounge, located in McArthur Hall, is named to recognize the generosity of Robert G. James (MOC 8, 1946, MBA 1948).

About the Name

Robert James made a gift to support the renovation of McArthur Hall in 2021. In recognition of this generosity and the family's strong ties to Harvard Business School, the lounge in McArthur Hall was named the Robert G. James Lounge.

After earning his MBA at HBS and his PhD in economics at the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Robert G. James had a wide-ranging career, including serving as a branch chief of the Central Intelligence Agency, an oil company executive, and a real estate investor. He was married to his wife, Ardis James, for over 60 years until her passing in 2011.

They made their home together in Chappaqua, New York and raised three children: Robert James Jr., Catherine J. (Cathy) Paglia (MBA 1976), and Ralph M. James (MBA 1982). Cathy and Ralph are both active and engaged alumni of HBS, and additionally two of his five grandchildren attended the School: Gregory L. James (MBA 2009) and Samuel J. Paglia (MBA 2018). Avid quilt collectors and natives of Nebraska, Robert and Ardis helped found the International Quilt Study Center & Museum at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln in 1997 with a donation of over a thousand quilts from their personal collection.