Records of the Co-operative Productive Federation

This material is held atHull University Archives, Hull History Centre

  • Reference
    • GB 50 U DCF
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1896-1968
  • Language of Material
    • English
  • Physical Description
    • 1 linear metre

Scope and Content

The records held cover the period between 1896 and 1968. For the Federation itself, they comprise general minute books, to 1961, minutes of the propaganda committee (1915-1919), the footwear commodity committee (1943-1962) and the Stanton Memorial Scholarship committee (1918-1948), volumes of press cuttings (1938-1968), a visitors' book (1947-1952), a cash book (1895-1899) and a ledger (1918-1920). There are also minute books for the following related bodies: the Co operative Co-partnership propaganda committee (1918-1960), the management committee and advisory sub-committee of Co-operative Productive Federation Footwear Ltd (1946-1954), and the Lancashire and Yorkshire Centre of the Labour Association for the Promotion of Co-operative Production based on Labour Co-partnership (1897-1899).

Administrative / Biographical History

The Federation was formed in 1882 to join together some fifteen local producer-owned co-operative societies, with the aim of helping them to find capital and markets for their goods. These members were involved mainly in the clothing, footwear and printing trades, operating on a co-partnership and profit-sharing basis. The Federation was overtaken by the establishment in 1971 of the Industrial Common Ownership Movement as the central organisation of a new generation of workers' co-operatives.

Access Information

Access will be granted to any accredited reader

Other Finding Aids

Entry in Business records subject guide

Custodial History

Deposited in 1971

Related Material

Records of Hull and East Yorkshire Co-operative Society Ltd. [U DHC]

Records of Hull Printers Ltd. [U DHP]