Co Operative Collection

New Lanark Mills, Scotland. Robert Owens (1771-1858) model community of cotton mills, housing, education, worlds first day nursery, evening classes, village shop (beginning of Co-operative movement)

The Original Co-op, Rochdale, Lancashire
On December 21st, 1844, the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Society commenced trading in this building thereby launching the worldwide Co-operative movement

Putting in seed on a bonanza farm, 1800s
Seeding grain on a bonanza farm, North Dakota, early 1890s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Among up to the minute shopping facilities, Guisborough preserves its historic link. 10th September 1962

Sign on the wall at Champagne Palmer, a big cooperative co-operative, Reims, Champagne, Marne, Ardennes, France

A cartoon commenting on the early days of the Co-operative movement, 19th century
5311010 A cartoon commenting on the early days of the Co-operative movement, 19th century; (add.info.: Date: 1871); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Dakota Apartment House, New York, N.Y. between 1905 and 1915. Creator: Unknown
Dakota Apartment House, New York, N.Y. between 1905 and 1915

Allen Plantation operated by Natchitoches Farmstead Association, a cooperative established... 1940
Allen Plantation operated by Natchitoches Farmstead Association, a cooperative established through the cooperation of F. S. A. Louisiana, August 1940

A corner of the dining room in the League Hall. 1908. Creator: Unknown
A corner of the dining room in the League Hall. 1908

Main office of the New Rochelle Co-operative Business League; 24 Brook Street. 1908. Creator: Unknown
Main office of the New Rochelle Co-operative Business League; 24 Brook Street. 1908

Directors of the New Rochelle Co-operative Business League; [Samuel G. Craig; Frank Sheldon... 1908 Creator: Unknown
Directors of the New Rochelle Co-operative Business League; [Samuel G. Craig; Frank Sheldon; Theodore Fosque; Emanuel Eccles; Rev. Mark A. Bradley; John E. Bruce; Festus Walden; Henry W

Ian McKellen, as Dr Faustus, in the play also called Dr Faustus, at The New Theatre, Cardiff, Wales. Picture taken 11th February 1975

Ian McKellen, pictured in Newcastle where he is a member of The Actors Company. The Actors Company is 17 people, all on billing, equal pay, and equal terms

New flats and old buildings side by side in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. 30th April 1964

This row of buildings in Westgate, Guisborough, North Yorkshire, from the stone built house on the right to the far Co-Operative shop have been added by the department of Environment to the towns

Bayou Bourbeau plantation operated by Bayou Bourbeau Farmstead Assoc... Natchitoches, La. 1940
Bayou Bourbeau plantation operated by Bayou Bourbeau Farmstead Association, a cooperative established through the cooperation of FSA [Farm Security Administration], Natchitoches, Louisiana

Grain elevators, Caldwell, Idaho, 1941. Creator: Russell Lee
Grain elevators, Caldwell, Idaho

FSA borrower who is a member of a sugar cooperative, vicinity of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, 1942. Creator: Jack Delano
FSA borrower who is a member of a sugar cooperative, vicinity of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico

FSA borrower and participant in the sugar cane cooperative, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, 1941. Creator: Jack Delano
FSA borrower and participant in the sugar cane cooperative, Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico

FSA farmers working in a sugar cane field, vicinity of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. 1941. Creator: Jack Delano
Farm Security Administration farmers working in a sugar cane field, vicinity of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. This is part of an FSA cooperative

Sorting and packing tomatoes at the Yauco Cooperative Tomato Growers Association, Puerto Rico, 1942
Sorting and packing tomatoes at the Yauco Cooperative Tomato Growers Association, Puerto Rico

FSA borrowers harvesting sugar cane cooperatively on a farm, vicinity Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico
Farm Security Administration borrowers harvesting sugar cane cooperatively on a farm, vicinity of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico

Tomato crates at the Yauco cooperative tomato growers association, Puerto Rico, 1942. Creator: Jack Delano
Tomato crates at the Yauco cooperative tomato growers association, Puerto Rico

Washing oranges at an orange packing co-op, Redlands, Calif. 1943. Creator: Jack Delano
Washing oranges at an orange packing co-op, Redlands, Calif. Santa Fe R.R. trip

Packing oranges at a co-op orange packing plant, Redlands, Calif. 1943. Creator: Jack Delano
Packing oranges at a co-op orange packing plant, Redlands, Calif. Santa Fe R.R. trip

FSA borrower and member of Yauco tomato cooperative... vicinity of Yauco, Puerto Rico, 1942. Creator: Jack Delano
FSA borrower and member of Yauco tomato cooperative, planting tomatoes on his farm in the hills, vicinity of Yauco, Puerto Rico

Operating a machine for putting tops on crates, co-op orange packing plant, Redlands, Calif. 1943. Creator: Jack Delano
Operating a machine for putting tops on crates at a co-op orange packing plant, Redlands, Calif. Santa Fe R.R. trip

Loading oranges into refrigerator car at a co-op orange packing plant, 1943. Creator: Jack Delano
Loading oranges into refrigerator car at a co-op orange packing plant

Grading oranges at a co-op orange packing plant, Redlands, Calif. 1943. Creator: Jack Delano
Grading oranges at a co-op orange packing plant, Redlands, Calif. Santa Fe trip

Automatic dumper at the co-op orange packing plant, Redlands, Calif. 1943. Creator: Jack Delano
Automatic dumper at the co-op orange packing plant, Redlands, Calif. Santa Fe trip

Drying oranges at a co-op orange packing plant, Redlands, Calif. 1943. Creator: Jack Delano
Drying oranges at a co-op orange packing plant, Redlands, Calif. Santa Fe R.R. trip

Co-op orange packing plant, Redlands, Calif. 1943. Creator: Jack Delano
Co-op orange packing plant, Redlands, Calif. Workman is doing the preliminary sorting, picking out the discards. Santa Fe trip

Growers bringing in their crop to a co-op orange packing plant, Redlands, Calif. 1943. Creator: Jack Delano
Growers bringing in their crop to a co-op orange packing plant, Redlands, Calif. Santa Fe R.R. trip

The 20-seat Daimler bus for Doncaster, Edenthorpe, Hatfield and Thorne (new village). When Ernest Parish started running on a route between Doncaster and Armthorpe

Men of a Co-Operative - Bethesda Street, Merthyr, Wales. Date: circa 1909

Mr Owens Institution, New Lanark (Quadrille Dancing), engraved by George Hunt, pub
STC75993 Mr Owens Institution, New Lanark (Quadrille Dancing), engraved by George Hunt, pub. 1825 by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; English

Bristol Co-operative Society, 25 seater on UB chassis. Open-top single-decker bus. Date: circa 1940

A modern farmers co-operative bacon factory in Ireland (b / w photo)
6024838 A modern farmers co-operative bacon factory in Ireland (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Interior of a farmers co-operative bacon factory (b / w photo)
6024837 Interior of a farmers co-operative bacon factory (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Interior of a farmers co-operative bacon factory)

A cartoon depicting the early days of Co-operative stores
5311016 A cartoon depicting the early days of Co-operative stores. Illustrated by George du Maurier (1834-1896) a Franco-British cartoonist and author, 19th century by Du Maurier

Robert Owen, 1834 (oil on canvas)
3740340 Robert Owen, 1834 (oil on canvas) by Brooke, William Henry (1772-1860); 27.3x21.6 cm; National Portrait Gallery, London, UK; (add.info.: Robert Owen (1771-1858) Welsh social reformer

Interior view of Annfield Plain Co-op and grocery department staff. Annfield Plain, County Durham. Circa 1925

Westgate, Guisborough High Street, North Yorkshire. 15th December 1977

Corporation Street once a bustling thoroughfare in the heart of Coventry, has looked forlorn since through traffic was banned 13th January 1995

Early 1960s Austin LD high top van (mobile Shop), Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, 1965. A van belonging to the Scunthorpe Co-operative Society (SCS). 498 FFM was used as a mobie shop by the SCS

Barnsley Co-op, interior of the Jump Branch, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire, 1961. A photograph for the Barnsley Co-op showing the interior of their their new outlet in the village of Jump

Barnsley Co-op, Jump branch, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire, 1961. A photograph for the Barnsley Co-op showing their new outlet in the village of Jump, near Barnsley

Barnsley Co-op, Penistone branch, South Yorkshire, 1956. Artist: Michael Walters
Barnsley Co-op, Penistone branch, South Yorkshire, 1956. The well laid out shelves display a varied selection of goods from the period

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"Cooperative Communities: A Global Legacy of Collaboration" From the picturesque New Lanark Mills in Scotland, where Robert Owens pioneered a model community centered around cotton mills, to The Original Co-op in Rochdale, Lancashire, where the seeds of modern cooperative movements were sown - cooperation has long been at the heart of human progress. In the 1800s, as farmers put in seed on bonanza farms across vast landscapes, they too embraced cooperation to maximize their yields and ensure prosperity for all. This spirit extended even to Champagne Palmer in Reims, Champagne, where a sign proudly proclaimed their commitment to being a big cooperative co-operative. Not limited to industries alone, cooperation found its place on stage as well. Ian McKellen mesmerized audiences with his portrayal of Dr Faustus at The New Theatre and showcased his dedication by becoming a member of The Actors Company in Newcastle upon Tyne. In this vibrant cityscape adorned with new flats juxtaposed against historic buildings, the power of collaboration is evident. Beyond borders and continents, from Westgate in Guisborough to Bayou Bourbeau plantation in Natchitoches and Caldwell's grain elevators in Idaho - cooperatives thrived. Whether it was farmers joining forces or borrowers participating in sugar cane cooperatives like those captured by photographers Marion Post Wolcott and Jack Delano respectively - these individuals understood that together they could achieve more than they ever could alone. As we reflect on these diverse examples spanning time and geography, one thing becomes clear: cooperation is an enduring force that transcends boundaries. It empowers communities large and small to build sustainable futures rooted in shared values and collective action. Let us celebrate this legacy while embracing its potential for shaping a better world ahead.