Although some of the records date from as early as 1903, the bulk of the materials are from the 1940s through the early 1960s. The collection is organized into two series: OFFICIAL, LEGAL, AND MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS; and AUDIT REPORTS, which comprise about one-half of the materials.
The OFFICIAL, LEGAL, AND MISCELLANEOUS RECORDS contain proceedings and minutes of special, annual, monthly, bimonthly, and weekly meetings. Also included are articles of incorporation, by-laws, financial statements, agreements, leases, deeds, and mortgages. Miscellaneous materials include newsletters, correspondence, lists of stockholders, and bank notes. The series is divided into three subseries: Wisconsin Dairies Cooperative, the Wisconsin Creamery Company Cooperative, and the Wisconsin Cooperative Creamery Association. Along with the records of the Wisconsin Dairies Cooperative are materials from six creameries that merged with the Cooperative since 1963. With the records of the Wisconsin Cooperative Creamery Association are those of eight creameries that joined the Association in 1960 and 1961. Also included in the Association's records are materials relating to their dry milk production and their 1944 Lend-Lease agreement with the Federal Government.
The series AUDIT REPORTS includes the annual audits prepared by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture for the Wisconsin Dairies Cooperative, the Wisconsin Cooperative Creamery Association, the Wisconsin Creamery Company Cooperative, twelve creameries that merged with the Creamery Association and one that merged with Dairies Cooperative. The reports, arranged alphabetically by company name, provide detailed information on the organizations' assets and liabilities.
