The collection of Great Lakes Wool Growers Cooperative Records (1904-1987) documents several aspects of a regional wool marketing cooperative and its impact on local, state, and national levels. The records provide information on administration and management of the cooperative; government programs; wool production in Wisconsin; sales and marketing methods; and financial operations of the cooperative.
Records of Great Lakes Wool Growers Cooperative were arranged in the following series: ADMINISTRATION (1930-1987); CORRESPONDENCE (1938-1970); SUBJECT FILES (1932-1970); PRODUCTION RECORDS (1945-1963); PUBLICATIONS (1942-1965); FINANCIAL RECORDS (1931-1973); ACCOUNTING REPORTS (1930-1987); and RELATED ORGANIZATIONS (1904-1975). The bulk of the collection consists of administrative records maintained by the Cooperative's general manager and financial records. The majority of the collection dates from the 1950s to the 1960s and therefore pertains to the Wisconsin Co-Operative Wool Growers' Association. In each of the series, original order established by the Cooperative was generally retained.
The series ADMINISTRATION (1930-1987) consists of basic records of the organization. Included in the series are articles of incorporation and by-laws for the Wisconsin Co-Operative Wool Growers' Association; minutes; managers' reports; and scattered annual meeting materials. It should be noted that the minutes are photocopies or on microfilm and the originals are held by the North Central Marketing Corporation.
The CORRESPONDENCE (1938-1970) series primarily consists of routine files maintained by the Cooperative's general managers, Roy E. Richards and Roger Harris. The correspondence documents the management and operation of the Cooperative as well as its relationship with its members. Of particular note are the letters to members regarding payments and general memos to members. These files provide information on the wool market; new developments in government incentive programs; procedures for consigning or selling wool; and the financial status of the Cooperative. Correspondence of the general manager includes materials on a sheep shearing school; the Cooperative's services; receiving agencies; problems and concerns of Cooperative members; and the “Miss Wool” and “Make It Yourself With Wool” contests. The remaining correspondence files concern the physical plant development of the Cooperative.
The series SUBJECT FILES (1932-1970) is arranged alphabetically and also contains information on the physical plant development. The strength of this series, however, is its documentation of the federal government's role in wool marketing through programs such as the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service Wool Payment Program; Government Incentive Payment Programs; and the Wool Price Support Program. Additional files of note are those reporting statistical information (Business Censuses and United States Department of Agriculture, Annual Surveys of Farmers Cooperatives) and those pertaining to other Wisconsin cooperatives.
The PRODUCTION RECORDS (1935-1964) series documents the production of wool and its sale by Cooperative members. The records include an annual summary of tonnage by counties as well as a listing of the amount of wool produced by each member. The Clip Year Statistics provide information on the Cooperative's wools by grade and other charges associated with wool marketing such as freight; storage; insurance; and grading.
The series PUBLICATIONS (1942-1965) consists of scattered brochures on membership services and the wool products division of the Cooperative. The Cooperative publication Wool News (June 1936; January 1939-December 1959) can be found in the holdings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin Library.
The FINANCIAL RECORDS (1931-1973) series provides documentation of the Cooperative's financial activities from its inception through the early 1970s. The records also provide information on payment methods to individual members. Records in the series include general ledgers; receipts and disbursements journals; revolving fund ledgers; consignment and cash purchase ledgers; and wool journals. The series also includes payroll books for the limited period of 1962-1967.
The series ACCOUNTING REPORTS (1930-1987) contains summary information pertaining to the Cooperative's fiscal operations. The series includes standard accounting reports such as income tax returns, financial statements, and trial balances. Of particular note in this series are the accounting reports pertaining to consignments and shipments by type of graded wool. The 1972 consignment graded sheets are arranged alphabetically by member surname and contain information regarding quantity of wool, wool grades, and payments.
The series RELATED ORGANIZATIONS (1904-1975) is divided into three parts: Women's Auxiliary of the Wisconsin Co-Operative Wool Growers Association; National Wool Marketing Corporation; and Wisconsin State Sheepbreeders Association. Records for the Women's Auxiliary (1960-1970) are sparse and consist of the organization's constitution and publications. The correspondence is scattered and generally pertains to the “Miss Wool” and “Make It Yourself With Wool” contests and the wool products division of the Cooperative.
The National Wool Marketing Corporation (1939-1975) portion contains records relating to Wisconsin's membership in the national wool marketing organization. Of particular note are the loan applications, bonds, and agreements between the state and national organization. Also of significance are the daily circulars and “Weekly Market Letters” which provide information on the status of the wool market and legislative issues relating to wool. The remainder of the records in this portion are generally courtesy copies obtained because of the Cooperative's membership in the National Wool Marketing Corporation.
The Wisconsin State Sheepbreeders Association (1904-1939) records consists of a single volume of minutes. The provenance of this volume is uncertain and it is not clear how it came to be included in the records of the Great Lakes Wool Growers Cooperative.
