Utah Cooperative Association, 1936-1983

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Utah Cooperative Association
Title
Utah Cooperative Association
Dates
1936-1983 (inclusive)
Quantity
40 boxes, (19.25 linear ft)
Collection Number
UUS_COLL MSS 129
Summary
Records from the board of directors meetings, data from local outlet stores, and details on the U.C.A. merger with CENEX and the Intermountain Farmers Association.
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

The Utah Cooperative Association (UCA) was a wholesale cooperative owned and controlled by local cooperatives throughout the state of Utah. A cooperative is a business owned and controlled by the people who use its agricultural services. The local co-ops organized with the assistance of the State Self-Help Board August 17, 1936 with six employees and six local co-ops. By 1941, UCA became independent of the Self-Help Board and began operating as a wholesale supply co-op for farmers. By 1945 UCA had become financially strong enough to enable the organization to purchase its own warehouse and bulk plant. Their affiliation with the Cooperative League of the United States of America in the same year increased their buying power. By the early 1950s UCA had expanded its operation through the purchase of an oil refinery in the Uintah Basin and by becoming sole owner of the PAX trademark for agricultural chemicals through its acquisition of Kelly-Western Seed Company. UCA ceased to exist when it merged with the Farmer's Union Central Exchange (CENEX) in 1976. CENEX employed W.B. Robins as Western Area Development Manager at the time of the merger. CENEX is now one of the largest retail/wholesale propane networks in the nation.

Wilmer Burke Robins was born on August 21, 1917, in Scipio, Utah, the son of Clark H. Robins and Mary Marcella Johnson. W.B. as he was called moved as a young man to Salt Lake City, where he began his thirty-five year career in the development of the cooperative movement (1940-1976). At age 23 he became General Manager of the Utah Cooperative Association and served on numerous state and national councils, committees, and advisory groups. Robins is given credit for organizing the PAX Co., a subsidiary of the Utah Cooperative Association, which distributes lawn-care products. As a member of the Utah State University Board of Trustees and later chairman of the Institutional Council, Robins was a key member in the University’s policy making body. In the late 1970’s Robins established the Utah Cooperative Association Educational Trust Fund. The purpose of the fund was to establish an endowment at USU for study and research within a Cooperatives Management Program. Utah State University awarded Robins an honorary degree in Agribusiness 1983. Robins passed away November 28, 2001.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

This collection contains papers pertaining to the Utah Cooperative Association as well as the personal papers of Robins, dating from 1936 to 1978. The collection reflects Robins time as manager for the UCA and later as Western Area Development Manager for CENEX. Materials donated by Robins include correspondence, minutes, reports, studies, correspondence, financial records of UCA, publications, and conference proceedings. All photographs have been removed to P0385.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Utah Cooperative Association must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator and/or the Special Collections Department Head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: Utah Cooperative Association USU_Coll Mss 129, Box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations:USU_Coll Mss 129, USUSCA.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Materials in this collection have been divided into four separate series. The first series contains Corporate Files that include UCA's history, news articles, corporate papers and business documents covering approximately the years 1936-81. The second series contains information regarding the Corporate Mergers, reflecting from a historical perspective the expansion of the company into different areas. The third series are the UCA Distributors, Suppliers, and Local Co-ops and the fourth series contains the additional materials donated in 2001.

Processing Note

Processed in September of 2010

Acquisition Information

This collection was donated to USU Special Collections and Archives by W.B. Robins in 1986 with additional materials donated by Hal Robins in 2001.

Related Materials

Utah Cooperative Photographs (P0385)

Gary B. Hansen PapersCOLL MSS 319

Joseph A. Geddes PapersCOLL MSS 75

The Co-op Service RecordsCOLL MSS 343

Separated Materials

All photographs and slides have been removed to PO385.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

I:  Corporate Files, undatedReturn to Top

Boxes 1 through 14 are included in Series I
Container(s) Description Dates
Box
1
Materials relating to UCA History
10 folders are included in box 1
undated
Box Folder
1 1
UCA History
undated
1 2
Board Members, Biographies, Political Appointments
undated
1 3
W. B. Robins, Personal Correspondence
undated
1 4
UCA, Press Release, News Articles, Advertising
undated
1 5
UCA, Geddes Lectures, Miscellaneous Photo's and Drawings
undated
1 6
McCarthy Hearings on Un-American Activities, UCA Involvement
undated
1 7
Utah Power and Light Controversy
undated
1 8
Tenure Controversy
undated
1 9
Political Activities
undated
1 10
Farmers for Rampton, 1972 Election
1972
2
Materials relating to UCA History
5 folders are included in box 2
undated
Box Folder
2 1
Farmers for Rampton, Correspondence
1968
2 2
Farmers for Rampton, Correspondence
1968
2 3
Farmers for Rampton Contributors List
1968
2 4
Farmers for Rampton, Possible Contributors
1968
2 5
Farmers for Rampton, Advertising
1968
3
Materials relating to UCA corporate and business documents
8 folders are included in box 3
1936-1981
Box Folder
3 1
UCA Corporate Bylaws and Amendments
undated
3 2
UCA Corporate Bylaws
1948-1949
3 3
Foundation Documents and Corporate Bylaw
1947
3 4
Board of Directors Memoranda
undated
3 5
Board of Directors Memoranda
undated
3 6
Board of Directors Memoranda
undated
3 7
Board of Directors Memoranda
undated
3 8
Refined Fuels Information
undated
4
Materials relating to UCA corporate and business documents
9 folders are included in box 4
1936-1981
Box Folder
4 1
Refined Fuels Information
undated
4 2
Refined Fuels Information
undated
4 3
Oil Suppliers Correspondence
undated
4 4
Mint Production
1969
4 5
Mint Production
1969
4 6
Mint Production
1970-1972
4 7
Mint Production
1973-1974
4 8
Mint Production
1975-1979
4 9
UCA and Wholly Owned Subsidiaries
undated
5
Materials relating to UCA corporate and business documents
7 folders are included in box 5
1936-1981
Box Folder
5 1
Executive Committee Reports
undated
5 2
Operation Committee Reports
undated
5 3
Financial Records
1975-1979
5 4
Financial Records
1974
5 5
Financial Records
1970-1973
5 6
Financial Records,
1968-1979
5 7
Financial Records
1960-1977
6
Board of Directors Meetings, Reports and Minutes
1969-1981
7
Board of Directors Meetings, Reports and Minutes
1960-1968
8
Board of Directors Meetings, Reports and Minutes
1953-1959
9
Board of Directors Meetings, Reports and Minutes
1949-1953
10
Board of Directors Meetings, Reports and Minutes
1936-1949
11
Corporate Audit Reports
1940-1959
12
Corporate Audit Reports
1960-1976
13
UCA General Information and Correspondence
1950-1975
14
: UCA General Information and Correspondence and Annual Report to Members
1947-1979

II:  CENEX Merger, undatedReturn to Top

Boxes 16 through 24 are included in Series II
Container(s) Description Dates
Box
16
CENEX Merger
12 folders are included in box 16
undated
Box Folder
16 1
UCA Financial Records
undated
16 2
Financial Records, Refined Fuel Sales
1964-1970
16 3
Financial Records, Refined Fuel Sales
1970-1976
16 4
UCA Files after 30 April 1976 Audit
undated
16 5
Report on Unclaimed Property held by UCA
1980
16 6
Co-op Sales by Customer
1970-1971
16 7
Co-op Sales by Customer
1971
16 8
Co-op Sales by Customer
1971-1972
16 9
Co-op Sales by Customer
1972-1973
16 10
Co-op Sales by Customer
1973-1974
16 11
Co-op Sales by Customer
1974-1975
16 12
Co-op Sales by Customer
1975-1976
17
CENEX Merger
8 folders are included in box 17
undated
Box Folder
17 1
Statement of Misplaced Stockholders, Assets and Transactions, Walker Bank
1980
17 2
Statement of Misplaced Stockholders, Assets and Transactions, Walker Bank
1979
17 3
CENEX Correspondence
undated
17 4
Statement of Misplaced Stockholders, Assets and Transactions, Walker Bank
1978
17 5
Statement of Misplaced Stockholders, Assets and Transactions, Walker Bank
1977
17 6
Document Exchange at the Closing of CENEX Purchase, pt. 1
undated
17 7
Document Exchange at the Closing of CENEX Purchase, pt. 2
undated
17 8
Document Exchange at the Closing of CENEX Purchase, pt. 3
undated
18
CENEX Merger
9 folders are included in box 18
undated
Box Folder
18 1
Agricultural Development Council
undated
18 2
Agricultural Development Council
undated
18 3
Agricultural Development Council
undated
18 4
UFA Annual Reports and Directories
undated
18 5
UFA Annual Reports and Directories
undated
18 6
Bob Bess File
undated
18 7
Budgets, Marketing, and P.R
undated
18 8
BYU Energy Workshop
undated
18 9
John Carr File
undated
19
CENEX Files
8 folders are included in box 19
undated
Box Folder
19 1
CENEX Personnel (Misc., St. Paul), Correspondence
1977-1978
19 2
CENEX Personnel (Misc., St. Paul), Correspondence
1977-1979
19 3
CENEX Personnel (Misc., St. Paul), Correspondence
1977-1979
19 4
CENEX Personnel (Misc., St. Paul), Correspondence
1977-1979
19 5
Co-op Managers Correspondence
undated
19 6
Ed Felton File, Eureka, Nevada
undated
19 7
Ed Felton File, Eureka, Nevada
undated
19 8
Farmers Union
undated
20
CENEX Files
12 folders are included in box 20
undated
Box Folder
20 1
HMO Advising Council
undated
20 2
Don Holbrook File
undated
20 3
Miscellaneous
undated
20 4
Miscellaneous
undated
20 5
Employee's Benefits
undated
20 6
Pension Matters
undated
20 7
Plant Variety Board
undated
20 8
Plant Variety Board, from Plant Variety Protection Office to W.B. Robins
undated
20 9
Preview Magazine
undated
20 10
PAX Co
undated
20 11
Senator Jake Garn File
undated
20 12
Public Relations, Tom Winn
undated
21
CENEX Files
17 folders are included in box 21
undated
Box Folder
21 1
P.R. Materials
undated
21 2
Requisitions Pending
undated
21 3
W.B. Robins Incoming Correspondence
undated
21 4
Richard Siderius File
undated
21 5
Richard Siderius File
undated
21 6
Scholarships
1977-1978
21 7
UCA Shareholders Financial Data
undated
21 8
Bob Trottier File
undated
21 9
Tanner, Brunson, Pickett, and Co., Accountants
undated
21 10
UCA Board and Executive Committee
undated
21 11
Young Peoples Conference
undated
21 12
Utah Institutional Council
undated
21 13
Utah Institutional Council
undated
21 14
Utah Institutional Council
undated
21 15
USU Foundation Annual Members Meeting
1978
21 16
USU Thesis by Swarna Raghuur
undated
21 17
Clark Wall Folder
undated
22
IFA Merger
16 folders are included in box 22
undated
Box Folder
22 1
Coordination of Farm Supply Operations of the Utah Poultry and Farmers Co-op and UCA
undated
22 2
Merger Feasibility Report
undated
22 3
IFA Merger
undated
22 4
Merger Correspondence
1960-1961
22 5
Merger Correspondence
1962-1963
22 6
Merger Correspondence
1964-1965
22 7
Merger Correspondence
undated
22 8
Merger Correspondence
1968
22 9
IFA during the Merger, Pete Marick
undated
22 10
Report on Merger
1964
22 11
Feasibility Report
1968
22 12
Feasibility of Merger Documents
undated
22 13
Feasibility Study of Merger
1968
22 14
IFA Discussion and Merger
undated
22 15
IFA, General
undated
22 16
IFA, Legal
undated
23
Uintah Oil Refining Company, Board Minutes and Reports
1945-1964
24
Uintah Oil Refining Company, Board Minutes and Reports
1965-1976

III:  UCA Distributors, Suppliers, and Local Co-op's, undatedReturn to Top

Boxes 25 through 35 are included in Series III
Container(s) Description Dates
Box
25
UCA Distributors, Suppliers, and Local Co-op's
9 folders are included in box 25
undated
Box Folder
25 1
Anderson
1963-1967
25 2
Anderson
1968-1975
25 3
Anderson, Blue Prints for Factory, Advertising, Newspaper Articles
undated
25 4
Ashley Farmers Union
undated
25 5
Ashley Farmers Union
undated
25 6
Ashley Farmers Union
undated
25 7
Bear River Valley Co-op
undated
25 8
Bear River Valley Co-op
undated
25 9
Bear River Valley Co-op
undated
26
UCA Distributors, Suppliers, and Local Co-op's
8 folders are included in box 26
undated
Box Folder
26 1
Bunker-Grobest, Correspondence
1974-1976
26 2
Bunker-Grobest
1971-1974
26 3
Bunker Feed Company Profile and Consolidation Feasibility Report
1964 - 1971 April 21
26 4
Bunker Feed, Contracts, Press Releases, Undated Notes, News Clippings, Magazines
undated
26 5
Bunker Feed, Financial Data
1971-1976
26 6
Bunker Feed
1970
26 7
Center Farm Service
undated
26 8
C.L. Young Inc
undated
28
UCA Distributors, Suppliers, and Local Co-op's
9 folders are included in box 28
undated
Box Folder
28 1
Cache Valley Dairy Association
undated
28 2
Castle Valley Co-op
undated
28 3
Castle Valley Co-op
undated
28 4
Castle Valley Co-op
undated
28 5
Co-op Service
undated
28 6
Co-op Service
undated
28 7
Co-op Service
undated
28 8
Co-op Service
undated
28 9
Davis Farm Co-op
undated
29
UCA Distributors, Suppliers, and Local Co-op's
8 folders are included in box 29
undated
Box Folder
29 1
Dallas Green
undated
29 2
Ence, St. George
undated
29 3
Enterprise
undated
29 4
Enterprise
undated
29 5
Enterprise
undated
29 6
Enterprise
undated
29 7
Ephraim Co-op
undated
29 8
Ephraim Co-op
undated
30
UCA Distributors, Suppliers, and Local Co-op's
10 folders are included in box 30
undated
Box Folder
30 1
Farmland Ind.
1975 July - 1976 December
30 2
Farmland Ind.
1975 January-June
30 3
Farmland Ind.
1974
30 4
Grouse Creek Co-op
undated
30 5
Hansen's Farm Supply, Gunnison
undated
30 6
Hansen's Farm Supply, Gunnison
undated
30 7
Honeyville Feed and Elevator
undated
30 8
Jackson Farm Supply
undated
30 9
Jenkins, Nephi
undated
30 10
Kamas Valley Feed Co-op
undated
31
UCA Distributors, Suppliers, and Local Co-op's
7 folders are included in box 31
undated
Box Folder
31 1
Larsen's Farm Supply, Wellington
undated
31 2
Moroni Feed Co-op
undated
31 3
Mount-A-Lake Association, Geneva
undated
31 4
Mount Pleasant Co-op
undated
31 5
Nevada Accounts and Other Independents
undated
31 6
Nevada Accounts and Other Independents
undated
31 7
Nevada Accounts and Other Independents
undated
32
UCA Distributors, Suppliers, and Local Co-op's
12 folders are included in box 32
undated
Box Folder
32 1
Oasis Seed Co-op
undated
32 2
Overson's Feed and Seed
undated
32 3
Panguitch Co-op
undated
32 4
Ralph Pace
undated
32 5
Rich Co-op
undated
32 6
Rich Co-op
undated
32 7
Rich Co-op
undated
32 8
Sevier Valley Co-op
undated
32 9
Southern Utah Dairy
undated
32 10
Trenton Feed Co-op
undated
32 11
Trenton Feed Co-op
undated
32 12
Trenton Feed Co-op
undated
33
UCA Distributors, Suppliers, and Local Co-op's
5 folders are included in box 33
undated
Box Folder
33 1
Uintah Farmers Union
undated
33 2
Uintah Farmers Union
undated
33 3
Uintah Farmers Union
undated
33 4
Uintah Farmers Union
undated
33 5
West Millard Co-op
undated
34
UCA Distributors, Suppliers, and Local Co-op's
20 folders are included in box 34
undated
Box Folder
34 1
Meeting Minutes
1949
34 2
Meeting Minutes
1950
34 3
Meeting Minutes
1951
34 4
Meeting Minutes
1952
34 5
Meeting Minutes
1953
34 6
Meeting Minutes
1954
34 7
Meeting Minutes
1955
34 8
Meeting Minutes
1956
34 9
Meeting Minutes
1957
34 10
Meeting Minutes
1958
34 11
Meeting Minutes
1959
34 12
Meeting Minutes
1960
34 13
Meeting Minutes
1962
34 14
Meeting Minutes
1963
34 15
Meeting Minutes
1964
34 16
Meeting Minutes
1965
34 17
Meeting Minutes
1966
34 18
Meeting Minutes
1967
34 19
Meeting Minutes
1968
34 20
Meeting Minutes
1969
35
UCA Distributors, Suppliers, and Local Co-op's
8 folders are included in box 35
undated
Box Folder
35 1
Meeting Minutes
1970
35 2
Meeting Minutes
1971
35 3
Meeting Minutes
1971
35 4
Meeting Minutes
1972
35 5
Meeting Minutes
1973
35 6
Meeting Minutes
1974
35 7
Meeting Minutes
1975
35 8
Meeting Minutes
1976

Series IV:  UCA Distributors, Suppliers, and Local Co-op's, undatedReturn to Top

Boxes 36 through 40 are included in Series IV
Container(s) Description Dates
Box
36
Miscellaneous Materials relating to CENEX merger and Utah Cooperative Education Trust Fund
8 folders are included in box 36
undated
Box Folder
36 1
Agricultural Development Council
undated
36 2
CENEX merger, Papers and Correspondence
undated
36 3
"Correspondence and Data on the liquidation of Utah Cooperative Association for members"
undated
36 4
"Correspondence and Data on the liquidation of Utah Cooperative Association for members"
undated
36 5
Correspondence, W.B. Robins, Miscellaneous
undated
36 6
Correspondence, W.B. Robins, Miscellaneous
undated
36 7
Cooperator Newspapers
undated
36 8
Honorary Diploma and Photograph, Utah State University
June 4, 1983
37
Miscellaneous Materials relating to CENEX merger and Utah Cooperative Education Trust Fund, (cont'd)
6 folders are included in box 37
undated
Box Folder
37 1
"Memorandum of Law: A Student Publication, Utah State University
1974 November 12
37 2
Newspaper Clippings
undated
37 3
Universal Cooperatives, Inc. Executive Committee Meeting Budget and Finance Committee Meeting, Board of Directors Meeting; Minutes
1976 April 29-30
37 4
Utah Coop Association Educational Trust, Drafts
undated
37 5
Utah Coop Association Educational Trust Fund Account
undated
37 6
W.B. Robins and Utah Cooperative Association, Accession notes
undated
38
Cooperative Books
5 folders are included in box 38
undated
Box Folder
38 1
Cooperation: Working Together for Human Freedoms, Proceedings of the 21st Biennial Congress of The Cooperative League of the U.S.A., Minneapolis, Minnesota
1958 September 9-11
38 2
Factors Affecting Loyalty in Consumer Cooperative, Thesis by John Geddes Wark
1977
38 3
Problems of Small Business Related to the National Emergency: Hearings before Subcommittee No. 1 of the Select Committee of Small Business House of Representatives Eighty-Second Congress, First Session, H.Res. 33, Part 3
1951
38 4
Proceedings of the 18th Biennial Congress of the Cooperative League of the U.S.A.,: Cooperatives Meeting the Needs of the Present World Minutes of the Congress Reports and Addresses, Chicago, Illinois
1952 November 6-8
38 5
Rural Development: Hearings before the Subcommittee on Rural Development of the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry United States Senate Ninety-Second Congress First Session on S. 2223 Part 4
1971
39
Cooperative Books (cont'd)
12 folders are included in box 39
undated
Box Folder
39 1
To Gather Together CENEX: The First Fifty Years by Leo N. Rickertsen,[St. Paul] : Farmers Union Central Exchange
1980
39 2
W.B. Robins on KSL Radio, UCA Sold to CENEX, cassette tape
1976 April 1
39 3
California Consumer Cooperatives Annual Reports and Publications
undated
39 4
CENEX Annual Reports and Publications
undated
39 5
Consumers Cooperative Association Reports and Publications, Kansas City
undated
39 6
Cooperative Community in the North Brigham City Utah by Leonard J. Arrington, Reprinted from Utah Historical Quarterly, Vol. 33, No. 3 Summer, 1965
1965
39 7
Farmer Cooperative Service, Publications, U.S. Department of Agriculture
undated
39 8
Farmers Union Central Exchange, Annual Reports
undated
39 9
Farmland Industries, Inc. Annual Reports and Publications
undated
39 10
FELCO Annual Reports
undated
39 11
Indiana Farm Bureau Cooperative Annual Report
undated
39 12
Landmark Annual Report
undated
40
Cooperative Magazines and Reports (cont'd)
5 folders are included in box 40
undated
Box Folder
40 1
Midland Cooperative Annual Reports
undated
40 2
Miscellaneous Cooperative Annual Reports
undated
40 3
Miscellaneous Cooperative Reports and Articles
undated
40 4
Pacific Supply Cooperative, Annual Reports, Statements and Speech
undated
40 5
Southern Farmers Association
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Corporate Names

  • Ashley Farmers Union.
  • Bear River Valley Cooperative.
  • Bunker Feed Company.
  • Cache Valley Dairy Association.
  • Castle Valley Cooperative.
  • Davis Farm Cooperative.
  • Ence (St. George, Utah).
  • Ephraim Cooperative (Ephraim, Utah).
  • Grouse Creek Cooperative.
  • Hansen's Farm Supply (Gunnison, Colo.)
  • Intermountain Farmers Association.
  • Jackson Farm Supply.
  • Kamas Valley Feed Cooperative.
  • Larsens Farm Supply (Wellington, Utah)
  • Moroni Feed Cooperative.
  • Mount Pleasant Cooperative.
  • Mount-A-Lake Association (Geneva, Utah)
  • Oasis Seed Cooperative.
  • Panguitch Cooperative.
  • Sevier Valley Cooperative.
  • Southern Utah Dairy.
  • Trenton Feed Cooperative.
  • Utah Cooperative Association.
  • Utah Farmers Cooperative Association.