View XML QR Code

The Co-op Service records, 1936-1989

Overview of the Collection

Title
The Co-op Service records
Dates
1936-1989 (inclusive)
Quantity
16 boxes, (8 linear feet)
Collection Number
UUS_MSS COLL 343
Summary
This collection contains records of the Co-op Service Company, a Salt Lake City consumer cooperative organized in 1941.
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
Return to Top

Biographical Note

The Co-op Service, a chain of gas stations, was originally incorporated in 1941, as a subsidiary of Utah Cooperative Association (UCA), under the name of Salt Lake Consumer Co-op Service. In 1959 the Articles of Incorporation were amended, changing the name of the cooperative to Co-op Service. (A cooperative is a business owned and controlled by the people who use its services.) Within three weeks of deciding to open a cooperative, UCA had leased the land on Seventh South and Main Street, Salt Lake City, and remodeled the existing building. The cooperative opened for business February 28, 1941 with thirty-seven dollars of net worth and five-thousand dollars in borrowed assets. The first station was equipped with four gasoline pumps, an outdoor wash rack, and hoist to provide basic car care, lube and tire services to consumers. Fifteen years later the Co-op moved to Roberta Street and Ninth South. Three more Co-op stations opened in Bountiful, Orem and along Redwood Road. All four stations served as official state vehicle safety inspection stations.

Membership in the Co-op association is evidenced by a stock certificate. Benefits of membership entitled each stockholder to one vote at the annual election meetings and an annual cash refund at the years end. Members received a monthly newspaper which recorded the Co-op's activities and offered helpful tips about car maintenance, including winterization, lighting and tire varieties. Additionally, members participated in cooperative contests, dinners and promotional meetings.

In June 1964, because of continuous low sales, the Orem station shut down. In 1973 the OPEC oil crisis caused the price of crude oil to triple and, consequently, unprecedented inflation followed. These economic forces increased the cost of operation at the service stations and the Co-op lost too much money to recover their profits. By 1981 the Co-op was taking steps to liquidate the service stations and minimize financial losses. The Bountiful station and Redwood Road station were sold in 1983. The Ninth South station in Salt Lake City was sold in 1986. The Board of Directors remained intact until the sales were finalized in 1989.

Return to Top

Content Description

This collection contains records of the Coop Service Company, a Salt Lake City consumer cooperative organized in 1941. Materials from Co-op Service include origination documents, stock and membership lists, annual reports, meeting minutes and financial records from 1936-1989.

Return to Top

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

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

Permission to publish material from the The Co-op Service records must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives manuscript curator and/or the Special Collections and Archives department head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation: The Co-op Service records USU_MSS COLL 343, box [ ]. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations: USU_MSS COLL 343, USUSCA.

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Processing Note

Processed in July of 2009.

Acquisition Information

This collection was donated to USU Special Collections and Archives by Robert Bennion in 1990. Robert Bennion served as the last president of the Co-op Service.

Related Materials

Utah Cooperative AssociationColl Mss 129

Custodial History

This collection was donated to USU Special Collections and Archives by Robert Bennion in 1990. Robert Bennion served as the last president of Coop Service.

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

Finding aid/Register created by Emily Gurr
2009

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

About Creative Commons Licenses in Archives West