Co-operative ArcHive learning resources now available online

The co-operative movement has a rich and colourful history – and a new set of interactive learning resources has been developed by the Co-operative College and  Co-operative Heritage...

The co-operative movement has a rich and colourful history – and a new set of interactive learning resources has been developed by the Co-operative College and  Co-operative Heritage Trust to bring some of the characters and stories from the past to life.

The stories include facts and figures, films, photographs and other images drawn from the National Co-operative Archive’s extensive collections, and cover many aspects of the UK and global co-operative movement.

They take you on a journey through politics and trade unions, from the founding of the UK’s Co-operative Wholesale Society to global fair trade initiatives. They also take an in-depth look at the impact the First World War had on the movement in this, the centenary year of war’s outbreak.

The resources, which have been prepared in consultation with subject experts, do not represent definitive histories, but rather draw together documentary evidence to illustrate a colourful past and make original source material accessible to those who may not have the opportunity to visit the Manchester-based archive in person.

 

Trading with the World: How co-operatives pioneered global fair trade

From the very earliest days, the CWS sourced food and materials from overseas and supplied its own products to co-ops abroad. It pioneered global supply chains, which not only ensured cheaper goods for its consumer members, but also flew the flag for fair prices for farmers and better treatment for workers.

 

A Colossus of Commerce: the foundation of the Co-operative Wholesale Society

This collection charts the history of the CWS from its uncertain start in 1863, through being one of Britain’s biggest businesses in the early twentieth century, to its modern day incarnation as the Co-operative Group.

 

Politics for the People: Co-operators in politics

The engagement of co-operators in the arena of politics began with the Rochdale pioneers’ declaration of political neutrality. This story takes you forward in time through the formation of the Co-operative Party and the election of its first MPs, the alliance with the Labour Party, its influence during the World Wars and more recent campaigning activities.

 

From Factory Floor to Front Line: Co-operative employees in the First World War

Employees from the UK’s flourishing co-operative movement were among the first to sign up to fight for king and country at the outbreak of war in 1914. Many personal stories found their way into Co-operative News, bringing the horrors of the front line to the attention of those remaining behind.

 

Common Roots: co-operatives and trade unions

Throughout the nineteenth century, workers set up co-operatives as a way of running their own businesses. Just as an individual worker is unable to negotiate his or her terms and conditions of employment with an employer on an equal basis, so an individual consumer or farmer is unable to negotiate on equal terms with more powerful players in the market.

The resources were prepared with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and are all available for online at www.archive.coop/hive. A printed format is also available. Follow twitter.com/explorearcHive for updates.

 

The resources were prepared with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and are all available for online at www.archive.coop/hive. A printed format is also available. Follow twitter.com/explorearcHive for updates.

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