Guide to the Washington State Council of Farmer Cooperatives Records
1936-1976

Print this Finding Aid | Email this Finding Aid

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Washington State Council of Farmer Cooperatives
Title: Washington State Council of Farmer Cooperatives Records
Dates: 1936-1976 ( inclusive )
Quantity: 1 containers. (1 linear feet of shelf space.) (855 items.)
Collection Number: Cage 445
Summary: Correspondence, minutes, articles and by-laws, newsletters and other papers of a state organization of farmer cooperative business associations.
Repository: Washington State University Libraries
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections

New Holland Library
Pullman, WA 99164-5610 USA
(509) 335-6691
http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/holland/masc/masc.htm

Languages: Collection materials are in English. 
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical Note

The Washington State Council of Farmer Cooperatives (formerly the Washington State Cooperative Council) was first organized on September 25, 1936, at the Western Washington Research and Extension Center (WWREC) in Puyallup. The charter membership consisted of 45 cooperative leaders representing 35 farmer-owned or -controlled marketing and purchasing organizations. The original impetus for organizing the Council was to encourage and promote a closer mutual relationship between all farmer cooperative business associations in Washington and to support or oppose state agricultural legislation as a unified group.

In later years, as the Council's membership grew, its needs expanded. The Council began working more closely with extension services and engaging in activities designed to advance its cooperative program throughout the state. Vocational agricultural education programs, such as business training conferences and FFA cooperative marketing and purchasing classes and Youth Tours, were also developed.

The Washington State Council of Farmer Cooperatives is a non-profit organization and a member of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.

Content Description

The records of the Washington State Council of Farmer Cooperatives are incomplete. Many of the records from 1936 through 1945 were apparently destroyed in a fire. The remaining papers include such material as articles of association, by-laws, financial statements, check registers, minutes of the Directors' meetings, minutes of the officers, executives and trustees meetings, treasurers' reports, audits, general correspondence (included under various subject headings throughout the collection), and the records of several different committees.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access :  

This collection is open for research use.

Restrictions on Use :  

Folders 2-8, "Audits, 1941-1975," may be used only with the written permission of the Washington State Council of Farmer Cooperatives.

Preferred Citation :  

[Item Description]. Cage 445, Washington State Council of Farmer Cooperatives Records. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

Administrative Information

Arrangement :

All files have been arranged in a single alphabetical series by subject. The folder entitled "General File, 1932-1958" includes correspondence, reports, an organization history, and committee material. The bulk of the material in this file comes from the years 1936-1937. Although the records of the Washington State Council of Farmer Cooperatives span the years from 1936 through 1976, the bulk of the material dates from the period of the 1950s and 1960s.

Acquisition Information :  

The records of the Washington State Council of Farmer Cooperatives were donated to the Washington State University in May 1978 by Karl Kottman, State Director (MS 78-19).


Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Articles of Association and By-Laws, 1936-1952
9
Container(s)
box
folder
1 1

^ Return to Top

Audits. See Restrictions, 1941-1975
35
Container(s)
box
folder
1 2-8

^ Return to Top

Beernink Retirement File, 1964
45
Container(s)
box
folder
1 9

^ Return to Top

Check Registers, 1945-1976
7
Container(s)
box
folder
1 10-12

^ Return to Top

Cooperative Creed, undated
1
Container(s)
box
folder
1 13

^ Return to Top

Financial records (Committee for Improving the Marketing of Washington Agricultural Products), 1959-1972
Container(s)
box
folder
1 14

^ Return to Top

General File, 1932-1958
30
Container(s)
box
folder
1 15

^ Return to Top

Minutes:
Container(s)
Description
Box
Folder
1 16-17 Directors' Meetings, 1945-1952
95
1 18-19 " Various Meetings (Trustees, Officers, Executives)", 1952-1962
95

^ Return to Top

"Newsletters ("News Notes")", 1962-1969
300
Container(s)
box
folder
1 20

^ Return to Top

"Washington, State Dairy Industry Committee:"
Container(s)
Description
Box
Folder
1 21 Minutes, 1950-1968
75
1 22-23 Records, 1958-1961
60
1 24 State Milk Order, 1958-1968
30

^ Return to Top

Subjects

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or places should search the catalog using these headings.

  • Corporate Names :
  • Washington State Cooperative Council
  • Washington State Council of Farmer Cooperatives--Archives  ( creator)
  • Subject Terms :
  • Agricultural cooperative credit associations--Washington (State)
  • Agriculture--Washington (State)--Societies, etc.--Records and correspondence

    ^ Return to Top