Collections : [University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library]

As its name implies, the Ann Arbor Cooperative Society was a cooperative corporation that offered its members a wide range of services. These included a credit union, legal and tax preparation services, home insulation and maintenance services, memorial advising and planning services, vacation property, discount ticket sales to amusement parks, and bulk purchasing. The records of the Society reflect its diverse activities, and include minutes, financial statements, audits, manager's reports, by-laws, news sheet, correspondence, and subject files relating to cooperative projects.

The records of the Ann Arbor Cooperative Society relate to its activities as a non-profit cooperative. While some material is extant documenting the early years, the majority of the record group is focused on the period from 1970-1983. Around a third of the available records are minutes to board meetings and financial statements, referring to the cooperative as a whole. The rest of the record group pertains to individual committees, projects, programs and activities.

This record group is excellent as a case study of a non-profit cooperative. The records provide information concerning the organization, its purpose, operation, finances and services. It is arranged in two series, Administrative Records and Board of Directors and Financial Records, with materials from the second accession incorporated into each of the series' files. While an attempt was made to place materials on specific activities and committees in separate topical -files, information concerning these can be found in the minutes of the board of directors, where all items concerning the cooperative society were discussed and reviewed.