National Co-operative Archive

The National Co-operative Archive, located in Manchester, UK, is home to collections relating to the history of the co-operative movement, that provide an unrivaled resource for the understanding of co-operative movement from its initial ideas of the nineteenth century to the present day. The archive includes manuscripts, rare books, periodicals, films, photographs and oral histories.

The origins of the Archive date from 1903, when the Robert Owen correspondence collection was transferred to the Co-operative Union and it has been built up gradually over the last century.

The Co-operative College was founded in 1919 and in 1946, it had to move away from Manchester, because of the damage caused in it headquarters by a blitz. It was relocated in Standford Hall and two Archives started to be developed. By the late 1990s, it was agreed that it was no an ideal situation and the decision was taken to merge the two Archives, and following the steps to create a National Co-operative Archive, major collections were deposited by other co-operative organizations, enhancing the collection.

The relocation of the Co-operative College at its original home in Manchester enabled the development of the Archive and the Rochdale Pioneers Museum.

In 2007, the National Co-operative Archive received Designated Collections Status, reflecting its importance to the heritage of England.

The Archive contains information about a wide range of subjects like local and family history, business development, consumerism, leisure, retailing, manufacturing, international co-operation and education.

Co-operatives have always involved a wide range of people and form part of their communities, which is why the National Co-operative Archive embraces many subjects:

The Archive holds much correspondence of individuals that have played a part in the development and success of co-operative movement.

The National Co-operative Archive holds books and pamphlets giving details and financial statistics of the history of the co-operative dividend (dividend: the way in which co-operative societies share the benefits with its members).

The Archive holds many records relating to individual co-operative societies. These include national organizations and some local societies.

These records can be particularly useful for knowing about old products, looking at the history of advertising and for social historians. They give a nostalgic view of the consumer culture and the trends of the past.

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