Mens Cooperative House records, 1938-1986

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Men's Cooperative House (Bozeman, Mont.)
Title
Mens Cooperative House records
Dates
1938-1986 (inclusive)
Quantity
0.5 linear feet
Collection Number
2509
Summary
The Mens Cooperative House Records consists of the initial member list, house leases, member lists, meeting minutes, and reminiscences. Two scrapbooks, consisting primarily of photographs of both houses and members engaged in various activities, complete the collection.
Repository
Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections
Montana State University-Bozeman Library
Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT
59717-3320
Telephone: 4069944242
Fax: 4069942851
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Languages
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Historical NoteReturn to Top

The Men's Cooperative House (informally known as the Men's Co-op) had its origin in the ideas of Dr. Phillip Eckert. He was part of a group which discussed forming a student housing cooperative and received great support from the independent students of Montana State College, Bozeman. Subsequent meetings were held and on May 11, 1937 the articles of incorporation were approved. After a trip to Washington State University and the University of Idaho, the core principles of the Coop were founded and by Freshman Week 1937 the first house was open for business with Ruth Kitterman of Great Falls as manager. On March 23, 1938, a house was opened at 603 South Third Avenue for the men with thirty-three initial members. Each person who joined had to pay the $5 membership fee and the same for a deposit. By Summer 1939, the Cooperative had enough reserve funds to buy a house at 712 South Willson to house their operations. The Coop operated until 1984, when their assets were liquidated and the Montana Technology Development Trust was developed to continue to assist student success.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Men's Cooperative Hour records consists of the initial member list, house leases, member lists, meeting minutes, and reminiscences. Two scrapbooks, consisting primarily of photographs of both houses and members engaged in various activities, complete the collection.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

The Men's Cooperative House records were donated to Montana State University by Hayden Ferguson of Bozeman, Montana in May, 2008.

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2011 August 16

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1 List of Charter Members Spring 1938
1 2 Leases 1938, 1943
1 3 Student Housing Constitution 1952, 1969
1 4 Meeting Minutes 1953-1957
1 5 Miscellaneous
1 6 Reunion 1986
1 7 "Resumes and Life Histories of The Men's Coop Home 712 S. Wilson" compiled by Leroy Bergstrom
2 1 Scrapbook 1938-1942
2 2 Scrapbook 1944, 1946-1960, 1968-1969

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Cooperative societies
  • Housing, Cooperative
  • Housing, Cooperative-Montana-Bozeman
  • Male college students--Housing--Montana--Bozeman--Societies, etc

Corporate Names

  • 603 South Third Avenue. Bozeman, Mont. (History)
  • 712 South Willson. Bozeman, Mont. (History)
  • Men's Cooperative House (Bozeman, Mont.)-Archives
  • Montana State University--Bozeman--Students--Photographs

Geographical Names

  • Bozeman (Mont.)
  • Montana

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographs
  • Photographs