Discover A Virtual co-op Archive

Explore David J. Thompson’s vast collection of historical co-operative memorabilia, which underscores his passion for the cooperative spirit. Enjoy viewing the collection while learning what co-ops have done and continue to do for their billion members’ worldwide communities.

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Consumer Cooperatives

Consumer cooperatives firmly have their foot in history as one of the earliest successful cooperatives. They operate under the foundation of pooling resources in order to have a larger purchasing power and/or that anyone can become an owner. Ownership regarding cooperatives takes a different form than a typical corporation. Instead of having a CEO liable to shareholders and the profits of the business flowing to them, at a consumer cooperative, the benefits will roll into lower prices for the consumer, or in some cases perks for member-owners.

Consumer cooperatives are some of the most common and popular forms and span a multitude of industries, though the most familiar to most people would be as food co-ops.

Over 1 billion people in the world are members of some form of cooperative or another. That is about one out of every 8 people.

Vintage district coin from Lechworth Hitchin with the number 1/2 in the center.

Round ceramic dish with a painted red fruit, green leaves, and text that reads 'Elroy Co-op Dairy Elroy, Wis.'

A vintage tin container of household oil with a spout, labeled "co op" and emphasizing cleaning, polishing, and lubricating functions.

Vintage advertisement showing two women in coats, one sitting in a car and the other standing outside, with a dog, promoting C.W.S Overcoats.

Orange vintage tin can with black and white text and emblem, labeled 'Egg Whites' from the Washington Egg & Co-operative Poultry Association, indicating 1,000,000 cases of eggs received annually in Seattle, Washington.

A storefront with a red and beige sign reading 'CO-OPPORTUNITY Customer Owned Food Store' located at 11556 in Santa Monica. There is a bicycle parked in front, and a sign on the left indicates parking in the rear. The store appears to be closed or no

Watercolor painting titled 'The Spirit of Co-operation' shows a street corner with a group of people, including a man and woman walking, two people near the store, and a few in the distance. There is a large building, a street lamp, a red fire hydran

Vintage poster advertising Luton Coal, with a young boy painting the word 'COAL' on a wall, sitting on a step ladder, holding a paintbrush and a ruler, dressed in light-colored clothing with red accents, against a pale green background.

Vintage advertisement for C.W.S. Texas tea featuring a cheerful young boy with a bag of cooperative tea on his back, standing on a golf course with other players in the background.

Vintage advertisement featuring a man with a hat and coat, holding a cigarette. The text reads: 'O'Gradly says- Smoke C.W.S Tobacco and Cigarettes - Cool Wholesale Smooth.'

A vintage poster showing a person with a military uniform holding a large red flag with a green element. The person appears to be in a dramatic pose, looking to the side. Text in Italian is present, referencing national income, subscription details,

Set of white porcelain teapot, sugar bowl, creamer, cups, and saucers with colorful floral and ribbon designs.

Colorful decorative cloth with a farm theme, featuring chickens, butterflies, bees, and flowers, with text saying 'Welcome to the Coop' and a sunny sky background.

Decorative ceramic plate with intricate Asian-inspired patterns, featuring a central scene of a pagoda, trees, and flowers, bordered by floral motifs and a green rim.

A vintage advertisement for C.W.S. Jams and Marmalade featuring a basket filled with various jars of jam, marmalade, and fresh berries, with a decorative bow on top.

Embroidered fabric plaque with the text 'The Co-operative Wholesale Societies Limited' and decorative border design.

Decorative ceramic plate with green scalloped edge, featuring an old black-and-white illustration of a large building and text about the opening of new premises on March 22, 1902, by the Brisbane Daisyfield Industrial Bees.

Book cover titled "Co-Operation in Nottingham" by F.W. Leman, featuring a illustration of an oak leaf with a cup and a branch.

Decorative plate featuring a black and white cityscape with a modern cathedral and surrounding buildings, trees, and cars.

Vintage poster advertising French-style rice from Coop, featuring a smiling woman with short curly hair wearing an orange shirt, holding a spoon of rice.

Photograph of thirteen men posing for a formal group portrait, seated and standing behind a decorative table, in a historical setting with curtains and a painted backdrop. The image is titled "Thirteen of the Original Members of the Rochdale Equitabl

A traditional Chinese village scene with people gathering around a market stall by a river, under a tree, with mountains and a pagoda in the background. Children and adults are interacting, with some exchanging goods and others observing.

Historical illustration of the Huddersfield Saleroom, a three-story brick building with signs for cooperative wholesale society and sale room, surrounded by horse-drawn carriages, pedestrians, and street lamps, in a town setting.

Decorative ceramic plate with a floral and bird pattern on a white background.

Vintage advertisement poster showing a woman on a porch handing a cup of CWS Tea to a young boy with a golf club and backpack, with the text 'Always fill your caddy with CWS Tea'.

Vintage brochure showing jars of squashes and jellies, and a scene of rural countryside with cows and a winding path.

Decorative plate with an illustration of a historic building and text indicating it commemorates the Cainscross & Ebley Co-operative Society established in 1863 and the Diamond Jubilee celebrated in 1923.

Vintage French wine advertisement for Gaillac wine, featuring buildings, vineyards, and bottles of wine, with French and English text about the wine's history and classifications.

A painting of a busy street scene outside a coop store called 'Oldham Co-Operative Stores.' People and children walk along the sidewalk, some with baskets and pets, while a woman pushes a cart with a baby carriage. A horse-drawn cart and children pla

A white teacup and saucer with colorful floral and fruit pattern on a white background.

A miniature model of the Rochdale town square with historic buildings, clock tower, trees, flowers, and vintage cars, labeled as "Rochdale, the Mecca of the World's Co-Operators."

Ceramic mug with a black and white illustration of a historic brick building, placed on a red surface.

A vintage green delivery vehicle with signage for Golden Crust Bread and Birmingham Co-operative Society Ltd. It has a rounded shape, small size, and the license plate NVP 144.

A small cardboard box with red and black design elements, featuring the word "SUBSH

Vintage illustrated cover with children flying in a line holding a large 'J' and 'V' that spells 'Juniors'. The title reads 'Juniors for JUVENILES'. A banner says 'Presented by The Cooperative Wholesale Socy Ltd.'

Vintage storefront with large display windows and a green sign that reads 'Viewslen & West Drayton Co-operative Society Ltd.' Four people dressed in period clothing standing outside, some in aprons, with a sign advertising the store’s meat department

A vintage cylindrical tin box with a portrait of a man in a police uniform on the front. The box has a decorative blue pattern with fleur-de-lis and a crown, and a label on the top with writing. The box appears to be old and collectible.

A vintage square metal tin container with a hinged lid, labeled for C.W.S mustard and confectionery, featuring colorful, worn vintage-style graphics and branding.

Vintage poster advertising women and children with baby carriages and bicycles, promoting cooperative societies.

Group portrait of thirteen men from the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers' Society in formal attire, posed in front of a stage with green and red curtains, with a wooden table and a backdrop resembling a historical setting.

Vintage sign for Sunbeam bread featuring a girl with curlers in her hair eating a toast, with the text 'Sunbeam Bread - It's Batter Whipped!' on a yellow and red background.

Exterior of a grocery store named 'C.O.-OP' with a sign indicating it has been operating since 1972. The store has a colorful outdoor seating area with umbrellas and a large peach sculpture on a pedestal in front.

Ceramic mug with a royal commemorative design, featuring portraits of Queen Elizabeth II and King George V, surrounded by flags, floral decorations, and the text for the Silver Jubilee 1910-1935.

Two small ceramic pitchers with marbled beige and brown patterns, each labeled with black text: one says "BRADGATE CO-OP. EXCHANGE FELCO - FEEDS" and the other says "LOMIRA COOPERATIVE CO.".

Vintage advertisement for C.W.S. Candles and Tapers by Irlam Soap & Candle Works, featuring two cats sitting near a lit candle and matchbox.

"Carry your paper money to the Potrebilovka Cooperative, And you will save money and help us finance the purchase of merchandise, Issued by the reginal union promising deposit returns backed by millions of rubles, full privacy of deposits, and intere

Historical storefront of the Rhyl & District Co-operative Society Ltd., with people standing outside, including a man in a white coat and a man in a dark jacket, a cart with a sign, and signage advertising tea and a slogan "The Revolt of the Consumer

Vintage advertisement for Cooperative Tea, featuring a woman in a polka dot dress pouring tea from a large teapot, with text indicating it's the nation's teapot and only sold by cooperative societies.

A painting of a historical street scene with brick buildings, horse-drawn carriages, and pedestrians, titled 'Rochdale Pioneers'.

Close-up of a vintage brass token with the words 'H S' cut out in the center, and inscriptions including 'REDEEMABLE IN MIDDLE' and 'THE' around the edge.

Vintage brass token with octagonal shape, engraved with text: 'MADE IN STONE CO-OP. S.O.C.L.D. LARGE LOAF'.

Exterior of a small grocery store with a green sign reading 'Co-operative' store front has large glass windows showing stacked goods inside.

A vintage blue and white milk delivery truck with a sign on top reading 'it's all at the Co-op now' displayed in a museum.

Farmers Cooperatives

Feeding a nation has never been easy, but to make it easier, farmers often rely on each other and pool their resources in certain areas of their jobs to take a bit of the weight off. Different countries and societies take this to different levels, however they are some of the most internationally established form of cooperation. Notable examples include Dairy Farmers of America, Zen-Noh in Japan, Amul in India, Arla Foods in Europe, and many others across the globe.

There are 1620 agricultural cooperatives within the United States. Their combined revenue comes out to over $200 Billion.

Colorful vintage-style grocery bag for co-op coop Golden Gate Bridge and text reading 'GARDEN GATE, Gateway to the Valley of Green Gold, Selected Vegetables, Packed and Shipped by Salinas Marketing Cooperative, Salinas, California,

Canned sliced lemon peaches in syrup, 6 pounds 4 ounces, from Old Dutch.

Vintage packaging for Jack's Washington State Apples featuring playing cards and a small red and yellow box with text about the Cashmere Cooperative Association Inc.

Land O'Lakes butter packaging featuring a lakeside scene with trees, highlighting it as farmer-owned since 1921, with a label indicating it is salted butter, 1 pound (453.6 grams), and 100 calories per serving.

A can of Shurfine unsweetened grapefruit juice with a picture of a glass of juice and oranges on the label.

Fruit crate label for Washington State apples featuring illustrations of flying seagulls, and images of a red apple and a yellow apple with green leaves.

Vintage produce label for North Huon fancy Tasmanian apples, featuring a detailed illustration of a red apple with green leaves against a dark blue background. The text includes the produce origin, producer, and location in Hobart, Tasmania.

A poster about The Co-op, Britain's largest farmer, showing images of farm animals, crops, a greenhouse, and farming equipment, with text describing its farming practices across several countries.

coop co-op Vintage poster depicting a woman with a smiling face holding a large wheel labeled "Société". The background shows stacks of barrels in a cellar. The text on the poster reads "Affiné dans nos caves naturelles" and "La Société".

Vintage fruit label for Elmwood Bartlett Pears, featuring two yellow pears on green leaves, with various text including 'United States of America,' 'Fancy Sacramento River Fruits,' 'Produce of U.S.A.,' and 'Blue Anchor, Inc., Sacramento, California.'

Vintage advertisement poster showing a man sitting on a vintage tractor labeled "CO-OP" with a red background. Text on the poster reads "CO-OP GASOLINE and DIESEL TRACTORS" and "economical power for every job on your farm." The poster promotes Co-op

Colorful vintage-style produce packaging for Camel Mountain Pears from Placer County, featuring an illustration of a camel adorned with colorful blankets and tassels, and a man in traditional clothing sitting on the ground, with a sunset and desert l

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Vintage advertisement for steel sheep shears made from best cast steel in Sheffield, with text highlighting a trade unionist's shear trade.

coop Book cover titled "Cooperative Commonwealth: Co-ops in Rural Minnesota, 1859-1939" by Steven J. Keillor, featuring a painted illustration of buildings and an old car.

Vintage green metal sign promoting cattle breeding with a black bull at the top and the words 'Member', 'Consolidated', 'Breeders', and 'Cooperative' arranged around large letters 'C B C'.

Vintage poster featuring a man with a pipe, wearing a hat and a shirt labeled 'co-operator,' holding a staff with oranges and leaves. The oranges have words like 'good value,' 'best service,' 'fair dividend,' 'mutual benefit,' 'reliable quality,' and

Illustration of a woman co-op coop The text reads 'We are changing trade for small farmers and our earth,' promoting equality exchange for fair trade products.

A poster promoting cooperative commodity zones by farmers in Bihar, India. It features three smiling farmers holding produce against a rural backdrop with labeled buildings for silos, processing units, and cooperatives.

coop co-op Vintage box sign advertising for Washington Apples with a picture of a Native American riding a horse with mountains in the background; also displays images of a yellow apple and a red apple.

Illustration of a vineyard with rolling hills, a village with red roofs, and a body of water with ships in the distance. Several people are harvesting grapes and taking photos, with a banner at the top that reads 'Viticulture World' and a red seal th

Sign with the words 'Shop Union and Worker Co-ops' in bold red and white letters on a blue and white background.

Vintage Soviet propaganda poster featuring a man and woman laughing, with bold Russian text. The man wears a cowboy hat and denim shirt, and the woman wears a red headscarf and white blouse.

co-op coop fruit Box label of assorted pears with holly leaves and red berries, and the text "Forever First" in blue, and additional text about the California Fruit Exchange.

Credit Unions and Cooperative Banks

Credit unions are also a type of cooperative, driven by their member base as their account holders, they are created to serve a specific group or population, though it often comes in the form of serving people in a specific area. They are often more concerned with the reliability and return rate on general savings for their members, and are considered not-for-profit institutions owned by members, not investors.

There are more than 92,000 credit unions across the world, spanning 118 countries, and serving 400 million members.

Illustration of Earth with various icons around it representing different sectors like agriculture, healthcare, energy, manufacturing, retail, industry, and residential, with a central banner promoting cooperatives for building a better world.

Red hardcover book titled 'The People's View Book' with a drawing of a woman holding a scale and a sword, surrounded by the words 'National Inter' and other text, placed on asphalt ground.

Electric Cooperatives

In the 1930’s electricity was becoming more and more a necessity and the norm, but not everywhere has access to the same level of electrification. In the rural corners of the United States, people sought to change the hand they had been delt and resolved to make an electric co-op; a corporation founded by and for the people it serviced electricity to, not dependent on shareholders looking to make their profit on people of the city, but instead to service the households not as easily reached by dense urban power lines.

Nearly a century later and we can still see the effects of this movement in the vast spread of electrification across the world. In today’s time with the rising prices on electricity, it is important to remember corporations with a purpose of servicing the people first, and not the shareholders do exist.

More than 900 electric cooperatives in the United States service 42 million people over more than 50% of the landmass.

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Sign with bold text reading "SHOP UNION and WORKER CO-OPS" in blue, red, and white colors.

Rochdale and Historic Coops

Cooperatives span centuries and nations and have been celebrated for their contributions to societies. They come in many shapes and forms from workers, utility, housing cooperatives, purchasing cooperatives, or any other non-traditional cooperative. Co-operatives are a system which fits many forms and functions, but at their core are about bringing value to each other through the things which we share in our lives.

The first widely recognized cooperative is regarded to be the Rochdale Pioneers in the UK. They were founded in 1844 and were able to pool together enough money to rent a store and sell a meager selection of flour, sugar, oatmeal, and butter.

$20 trillion in assets held by cooperative enterprises worldwide.

A person holding a colorful poster about the principles of cooperatives, featuring a large red flower at the center, with numbers 1 to 7 around it, each associated with different cooperative concepts such as democracy, control, membership, concern fo

A painting of multiple faces of a woman with a serene expression, stylized with geometric lines and shapes, and the word "COLO" written in bold lowercase letters at the bottom.

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