The Cooperative Library
Seeking a New Home
David J. Thompson has collected thousands of books over the course of a lifetime regarding co-ops, their history, and ways to bring worker and member owned businesses into the future. The library features over 4,000 unique perspectives dating from 1860 to the current day. It contains books hailing from the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Germany, Japan, and many others across the world. At 84 years old, David is now seeking to find a new home for his vast collection. He envisions seeing it installed with a cooperative entity, or one which serves cooperatives.
Highlighted Items
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![A bookshelf filled with books, including titles on cooperation, history, and George Jacob Holyoake.]()
Cooperative Library
LARGEST PRIVATE COLLECTION OF CO-OP LITERATURE
Approximately 4,000 books, and hundreds of pamphlets about various co-ops and their influences, which have been collected since the 1970s by David J Thompson.
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![Historic proclamation of the City of Los Angeles, California, with colorful decorative borders, illustrations of city landmarks, and state symbols.]()
Co-op Month Proclamation
CITY OF LOS ANGELES SIGNED PROCLAMATION
The signed proclamation from 1983 declaring October as the celebrated Co-op month in LA. encouraged the learning and spirit of cooperation. -
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Co-operative Principles
POSTER FEATURING ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND AMERICAN ICONOGRAPHY
One of the countless cooperative items that David J. Thompson collected which depicts cooperative principles from a uniquely American perspective.
About David J. Thompson
Thompson has dedicated his life to educating others about co-operation, through authoring four books and over 400 articles about affordable housing and co-operatives. During his professional career, he has developed or co-developed co-op and nonprofit housing that is home to over 10,000 people. In 2010, he was inducted into the US Co-operative Hall of Fame in Washington D.C.
