Records of the Oxford and District Co-operative Society (formerly Oxford Co-operative and Industrial Society). Includes a small number of records relating to its successor body, the Oxford and Swindon Co-operative Society.
The collection is primarily formed of minutes and reports, but also includes magazines and newsletters, handbooks, histories, photographs and ephemera.
The Oxford Co-operative and Industrial Society was formed in 1872, as a co-operative trading concern for the local area. Initially operating from small premises in George Street, the movement grew in the 19th century to encompass branches in Cowley, Witney and Headington, among others. In addition to trading, the society promoted co-operative values, and financially supported the education and training of working class youth. Continued expansion in the early 20th century led to the establishment of a number of new branches, including stores at Kidlington, Didcot, Bicester, Thame, Woodstock and Wallingford. In 1938, the society was renamed the Oxford and District Co-operative Society to reflect the wider scope of the organisation.
Originally purveyors of groceries and foodstuffs, coal, drapery and small consumer items such as crockery, boots and shoes, the society entered the milk trade in 1929 and opened a butchery department in 1930. In 1939, the society created pharmacy and hairdressing sections, forming the Oxford and District Co-operative Chemists Ltd in 1944. The 1940s saw the society develop its catering trade and branch out into funeral furnishing and electrical goods. Its first self-service shop opened in 1949 on the Cowley Road and its first ‘supermarket’ in Headington in 1957.
The Oxford Society merged with Chipping Norton in 1968 and Swindon in 1969, forming the Oxford and Swindon Co-operative Society. In 1991, a merger with Gloucester and Severnside Co-op created Oxford, Swindon and Gloucester Co-operative, which joined with the West Midlands Society in 2005 to form The Midcounties Co-operative.
The records were deposited in 2015 by the Midcounties Co-operative Society as accession 6360.
Catalogued by Katherine Kinrade in February 2018.
Some records may be closed under the Data Protection Act, please see the individual records for more details.
With enclosures (3)
With enclosures (2)
Gaps Oct 1959-Aug 1962 and Oct 1962-Aug 1963
Closed until 1 Jan 2037
Closed until 1 Jan 2040
Including minutes relating to the fish, hairdressing, cafés, halls, assembly rooms, drapery, radio and electrical and jewellery departments
Including minutes relating to apprentices, the funeral, confectionary and transport departments and branch stores
Including minutes of the Military Band committee, Co-operative Centenary committee, Hours and Wages sub-committee, Lambert Arms special sub-committee, Post-war Planning committee and Employees' Superannuation Fund committee
Previously the Joint Education Committee
Quarterly and half-yearly reports and annual reports with balance sheets
Quarterly and half-yearly reports and annual reports, bound with notes, letters, accounts and ephemera
Annotated, with enclosed notes and articles
Annotated, with enclosed notes and letters
Annotated, with enclosed notes and letters
Annotated. Includes minutes of members meetings and Oxford and District Co-Operative Chemists Ltd. meetings, ephemera and notes
Annotated. Includes minutes of members meetings, Oxford and District Co-Operative Chemists Ltd. Meetings, society rules, 1948, and notes
Amalgamated with Oxford, 1915
With enclosures (2)
Bound copies of 'The Wheatsheaf', the magazine of the Oxford Co-operative and Industrial Society Ltd.
No December 1931 edition
Feb-Apr 1941 issues missing
Single issue
'Newsflash' and 'Co-operator' - newsletters published by the Co-op Member Education Council of Oxford and Swindon Co-operative Society
President of Oxford Co-operative Society from 1899
At Castle Priory, Wallingford. With annotated copy listing names of members.
Photographer: Alfred F. Carpenter
Possibly Didcot. Showing Harry Waddle, George Wallis and Earnest Mather. With annotated copy.
Photographer: Alfred F. Carpenter
With annotated copy, listing names of members
Photographer: Westmoreland Studios
Possibly the Swansea Conference. With annotated copy, listing names of members
Photographer: Sandhurst Studios
With annotated copy, listing names of members
Photographer: Hotel Photo Service
Group shot of members and staff in front of the Rivlyn Private Hotel. With annotated copy, listing names of members
Photographer: Hotel Photo Service
Possibly the Carfax Assembly Rooms. With annotated copy, listing names of members
Photographer: E.A. Grant
At an unknown event. With annotated copy, listing names of members
Photographer: B.M.C. Cowley
Showing Co-op shop interiors and a presentation by the Mayor. May be the store at Cowley Centre.
Photographer: B.J Harris (Oxford) Ltd.
Showing the front entrance following the store refit
Photographer: B.J Harris (Oxford) Ltd.
With covering letter. Part of the Business Education Awards, 1986
By Donald Barnie
Entitled 'Review of small shops in country towns and suburbs of Oxford and Swindon'. Includes photographs of Co-op shopfronts
For Co-op talks, parties, seminars and public meetings
Relating to or suggested by the Education Committee
Previously the Flower and Vegetable Show committee
At Co-operative Hall, Swindon