The collection has been arranged into four series: ASSOCIATED MILK PRODUCERS, MORNING GLORY FARMS REGION; MADISON MILK PRODUCERS; CHEESE PRODUCERS MARKETING ASSOCIATION; and VISUAL MATERIALS. Together these series document the activities of a dairy cooperative by demonstrating its operations, such as dairy production and marketing. Additionally, it documents relations with its members and advocacy the organization did on behalf of their members. The series mainly focuses on the region of central Wisconsin, especially Dane County and the Madison area. Nearly three-fourths of the materials relate to the series MADISON MILK PRODUCERS and document the activities of this organization and how it eventually evolved into AMPI.
The ASSOCIATED MILK PRODUCERS, MORNING GLORY FARMS (AMPI-MGF) series (1968-1993) documents the activities of the organization in central Wisconsin, particularly of its Madison production plant. In addition, it covers the merger that took place with Morning Glory Farms in 1986. The remaining files go through 1993, just around the time when the Madison plant of AMPI-MGF closed. This series is divided into four sub-series: Administrative, Membership, Legal, and Marketing. There are gaps in years for many of the materials, but the documentation provides a fair representation of the nature of this organization.
The Administrative sub-series documents the business nature of AMPI, which is reflected in the meeting minutes of the MGF region and of the Mid-States region, and range from 1969 through 1971 and 1975 through 1976. Also included are by-laws from 1972 through 1986. Financial balance sheets from the Abbottsford, Wisconsin plant are also included.
The Membership sub-series includes newsletters to its members, a file containing various materials from the Director of Membership, and a membership list from 1983. The remaining materials in this series are general correspondences as well as correspondences arranged by recipient or subject.
The Legal sub-series for AMPI-MGF has information regarding legal suits and legal matters of the region, though it mainly documents legal disputes with other dairy cooperatives or farms. Included is correspondence and documentation relating to a dispute between Bancroft Dairy (a member of AMPI) during the time that MMP merged with AMPI. Most of the material happened after that initial merger. Also included are materials related to legal disputes with National Farmers' Organization, as well as legal correspondence from 1968 through 1975.
The Marketing sub-series material for AMPI-MGF is rather small, but still documents marketing activities by the organization. The majority of documents are transcripts of radio commercials from 1989 through 1993. A small booklet providing background information on dehydrated dairy products is also included.
The MADISON MILK PRODUCERS series (1924-1970), which consists of the bulk of the material for the entire collection, documents the activities of the Madison Milk Producers Cooperative Association (MMP) ranging from a couple years after its formation until it merged with AMPI. Materials of particular interest involve how the organization lobbied for issues pertaining to milk prices, Swiss cheese production, and raw milk sales. This series is divided into five sub-series: Administrative, Financial, Legal, Membership, and Marketing.
The Administrative sub-series constitutes the majority of materials for this series. Included are by-laws for MMP and its subsidiaries, contracts for dairy production, permits, and forms for price computation of milk. Materials related to the merger with AMPI are also included. There are a number of documents pertaining to rules and regulations for producing dairy products, as well as complying with regional, state, and federal laws regarding dairy cooperatives. The rules and regulations material consists of correspondence and articles of incorporation for various Wisconsin state government departments and councils that oversee milk production and marketing. Also included are reports sent to the state government, investigations, audits, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) survey of operations, and compliance tests regarding milk production. The Administrative sub-series also contains a fair amount of correspondence, which includes general and correspondence organized by various subjects and recipients. Finally, this sub-series contains a near-complete run of newsletters sent to MMP members from 1924 through 1966.
The Financial sub-series contains financial documents related to MMP and its subsidiaries, the Madison Milk Producers Co-op Dairy and the Madison Milk Pool Co-op. Included are financial statements from 1925 through 1969, federal tax materials and returns from about 1935 through 1969, petty balance sheets, and documents related to dividends, stocks, and certificates.
The Legal sub-series documents legal disputes with various dairy farms and cooperatives in the region from 1956 through 1965. Also included are legal correspondence with the state of Wisconsin regarding milk production (1935-1940) and correspondence with the federal government (1963-1964).
The Membership sub-series includes applications, addresses, lists of members, and signed contracts. Also included are materials related to the annual membership picnic from 1927 through 1949.
The Marketing sub-series includes advertising material from 1933 through 1945; press releases; material regarding a marketing booth at the Wisconsin Dietetic Association conference (circa 1940); radio broadcasts and transcripts; and materials related to product catalogs from 1949-1970.
The CHEESE PRODUCERS MARKETING ASSOCIATION series (circa 1942-1957) contains a small amount of materials related to the Cheese Producers' Marketing Association (CPMA), which MMPCA was a member. Administrative materials, which include by-laws and articles of incorporation, provide some context to the nature of the association. The legal materials document a lawsuit involving CPMA and Kraft Foods regarding the patent for Swiss cheese production.
The VISUAL MATERIALS series (circa 1940-1950) include photographs and negatives used by the MMPCA for marketing purposes, and include a number of images related to the marketing efforts of MMPCA at the Wisconsin Dietetic Association Conference (circa 1940).
