Title: Milwaukee Cooperative Milk Producers Records
Inclusive Dates: 1907-1975

Creator:

• Milwaukee Cooperative Milk Producers

Call Number: Milwaukee Mss 90; PH 4309

Quantity: 3.6 c.f. (8 archives boxes and 1 card file box) and 7 photographs

Repository:

Housed at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries’ Archives Department / Milwaukee Area Research Center; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:

Records of a Milwaukee-based agricultural cooperative which sought to stabilize dairy prices and improve production, quality, and sanitation in the dairy industry.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mil00090

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The Milwaukee Cooperative Milk Producers was originally formed in 1907 as the Milwaukee Milk & Cream Shippers Association and later incorporated as a cooperative in 1916. Early efforts included operation of a creamery, dairy plant, and manufacturing plant for milk powder and other products. However, the primary mission of the cooperative was to stabilize dairy prices throughout the Milwaukee “milk shed,” take care of homeless milk (the unpurchased portion of a milk shipment), and work towards better product quality and sanitation at the farm and plant.

The records include articles of incorporation, historical materials regarding formation of the cooperative, correspondence, meeting minutes and supporting documents, annual financial and audit reports, and various financial records including separate milk and cheese books (1917-1921) detailing plant payments to participating farmers. A significant part of the collection consists of milk production records including a butterfat test ledger book, milk weight cards for each farmer member, and monthly records of milk weight received at participating dairies from each farmer. There are also materials relating to Federal Milk Market Order #30 (1966-1979) which proposed establishment of a Chicago-based milk pool consisting of most of Wisconsin, the northern part of Illinois, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

The photographs, circa 1959, document a Milwaukee Cooperative Milk Producers meeting, several members of the cooperative, events at a Cooperative Fair, and Alice in Dairyland distributing milk to school age children.

Acquisition Information

Presented by the Milwaukee Cooperative Milk Producers via Edward Stuesser, 1975. Accession Number: M75-191, M75-547

Processing Information

Processed by Gayle Martinson, 1997.

Milwaukee Mss 90	Administrative
Box   1 Folder   1	Articles of Incorporation and Legal Documents, 1916-1975
Box   1 Folder   2-5	Correspondence, 1964-1973
	Minutes
Box   1 Folder   6-8	1907-1933
Box   2 Folder   1-6	1934-1951
Box   3 Folder   1-9	1953-1971
Box   4 Folder   1-2	1972-1975
Box   4 Folder   3	Supporting Materials, 1965-1973
	Financial
Box   4 Folder   4	Account Book, 1914-1916
Box   4 Folder   5	Annual Reports [Financial], 1923-1970
	Audit Reports
Box   4 Folder   6-8	1936-1958
Box   5 Folder   1-2	1959-1974
Box   5 Folder   3	Cheese Book, 1917-1921
Box   5 Folder   4	Commissions on Cheese Sold, 1919-1920
	Financial Journal
Box   5 Folder   5	1914-1921
Box   5 Folder   6	1916-1919
Box   5 Folder   7	Income Tax Returns, 1943-1962
Box   5 Folder   8	Milk Book, 1917-1921
	Marketing
	Federal Milk Market Order #30
Box   6 Folder   1	1966-1970
Box   6 Folder   2	1967
	Milk Production
Box   6 Folder   3	Butterfat Test Ledger Book, 1964-1975 Note: For each cow of each member.
Box   9	Milk Weight Cards for Patrons, circa 1950-1969
	Milk Weights from Dairies
Box   6 Folder   4-6	A-Z, 1970
Box   7 Folder   1-3	A-Z, 1971
Box   7 Folder   4-6	A-Z, 1972
Box   7 Folder   7	A-F, 1973
Box   8 Folder   1-2	G-Z, 1973
Box   8 Folder   3-5	A-Z, 1974
PH 4309	Photographs