Items relating to the co-operative movement

Series of items relating to the co-operative movement

The co-operative movement in England had its origins in the writings of Robert Owen from the 1820s. The practical expression of his ideas came in 1844 with the foundation of the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society, which was fully established by the 1850s. This society opened stores and workshops and was based on the principle of working people linked together in a system of manufacturing, distributing, selling and buying goods in a way that was co-operative and would, therefore, protect their interests. However, co-operative societies excluded women from membership and their early involvement was only as consumers, a fact that was later translated into the visual motto of 'the woman with the basket'.

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Donated by Dr David Neave, Department of Adult and Continuing Education, University of Hull, April 1990

Records of the Co-operative Women's Guild, 1886-1971 [Ref U DCW]