The records cover a wide range of topics relating to Groves Cooperative, especially its administration and troubled financial management. However, the documentation is incomplete, with the late 1940s and the 1950s the most fully represented. Notable in its absence is evidence of what life was like in the coop. Except for a few references which may be gleaned from the minutes, perhaps the best evidence for this may be found in the photographic albums kept by several residents. Additional information about Groves Cooperative may be found in the records of the Madison Community Cooperative held by the Society.
The papers consist of a statement of purpose and policies, minutes and notes of house and board meetings, membership records, ledgers and other financial records, and information on involvement with other organizations of cooperatives and on the historic building in which the cooperative was located. The records are organized as background information, administrative records, and financial records.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION consists of statements of purpose and membership policies, miscellaneous information concerning incorporation and the house's status as a historic landmark, certificates of membership in various organizations of Wisconsin cooperatives, and material distributed by Madison Community Cooperative.
General ADMINISTRATIVE RECORDS largely consist of notes and minutes taken at general meetings of the house and its board. The files are not complete, best documenting only the period 1948-1952, but they nevertheless provide the best documentation of life at the cooperative. Most often discussed are projects, assignment of duties, financial problems, and policy decisions. Other administrative records include incomplete membership records (containing some demographic data) and information on the responsibilities of officers and house parents and the management structure of the cooperative.
FINANCIAL RECORDS, which one officer called “Books, bills, and confusion,” comprise about one-third of the collection. Included are ledgers spanning the period 1946-1967 which summarize assets and liabilities, expenditures and income, and capital reserves. Other records which are less complete include property tax assessments, insurance policies, mortgage records, correspondence concerning collection of overdue bills, and (for the year 1955 only) monthly financial reports.
