Collections

As its name implies, the Ann Arbor Cooperative Society was a cooperative corporation that offered its members a wide range of services. These included a credit union, legal and tax preparation services, home insulation and maintenance services, memorial advising and planning services, vacation property, discount ticket sales to amusement parks, and bulk purchasing. The records of the Society reflect its diverse activities, and include minutes, financial statements, audits, manager's reports, by-laws, news sheet, correspondence, and subject files relating to cooperative projects.

The records of the Ann Arbor Cooperative Society relate to its activities as a non-profit cooperative. While some material is extant documenting the early years, the majority of the record group is focused on the period from 1970-1983. Around a third of the available records are minutes to board meetings and financial statements, referring to the cooperative as a whole. The rest of the record group pertains to individual committees, projects, programs and activities.

This record group is excellent as a case study of a non-profit cooperative. The records provide information concerning the organization, its purpose, operation, finances and services. It is arranged in two series, Administrative Records and Board of Directors and Financial Records, with materials from the second accession incorporated into each of the series' files. While an attempt was made to place materials on specific activities and committees in separate topical -files, information concerning these can be found in the minutes of the board of directors, where all items concerning the cooperative society were discussed and reviewed.

Reports of the club's presidents and treasurers, committee reports, constitution and by-laws, membership records, and bulletins, 1930-1965.

Both the internal workings and activities of the group are well documented in this record group. The records, 1930-1965, include a constitution and by-laws, minutes, 1933-1952, reports of the club's presidents and treasurers committee reports, flower show material, bulletins, and clippings. Illustrative of some women's activities during the 1930's, 40's and 50's, the record group also provides insights into local Ann Arbor history. The records, left in their original order for the most part, reflect the organization and activities of the club.

Correspondence, meeting minutes, lists of members and scrapbooks.

The record group has been organized into a single alphabetical series primarily by type of material. The meeting minutes are quite extensive, covering the years 1899 to 1989 and include budget information beginning in 1946. The files of applications, new members, Certificate of Distributive Interest (CDI) correspondence and resignations date mainly from the 1940s, 50s, and early 60s. The audit reports cover the years 1959-1972. The calendars cover the events and functions held each year by the AAGO from 1964 to 1986. The scrapbooks contain newspaper clippings and photographs about the AAGO. The clippings appear to be mainly from the Ann Arbor News. The history written by Orrin Mohler dates from July 1980 and covers the years 1890 to 1903. This is a good source of information about the early history of the AAGO as well as golfing in general in Ann Arbor. The correspondence series deals mainly with club business and contacts with other area golf clubs.

Ann Arbor neighborhood association. Correspondence, constitution, bylaws, minutes, financial records, and other working papers.

The records of the Ann Arbor Hills Association (AAHA) document the association's interests, concerns and general business. These records have survived and been sent to the Bentley Historical Library by Mrs. Elizabeth (Betty) Brown, one of the association's long-standing members and secretary for several decades. Perusal of the records will reveal the intricate intertwining of the association's life with that of Mrs. Brown.

The records have been divided into three series. Each series has been organized alphabetically, for the most part. Within sub-series the records may reflect subject organization rather than alphabetical or chronological organization. The 1996 accession has not been described in detail.

Ann Arbor chapter of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, a young adult community service organization; minutes, project files, budgets, newsletters, photographs, and related material.

The record group consists of seven series: Administrative Files, Projects, Auxiliary, Topical Files, Publications, State and Local Jaycees, and Other Materials.

Minute books of the Fire Department and of related voluntary fire companies; also other administrative records, including records of expenditures and salaries, and records detailing individual fires; and record books, 1876-1899, of city poor relief (then administered by the Fire Department); also photograph.

The record group includes an early minute book of the fire department as well as minute books of various volunteer fire companies in the city. There are, in addition, scattered administrative records, including records of fires in the city, 1899-1962, and records of the poor relief administered by the department. These poor relief volumes include the name of the recipient, the amount, and the items purchased. Also included are the names of the individuals who funded the relief fund.

Photographs collected from various donors relating to Ann Arbor, Michigan; include photos of buildings (public and private), houses, churches, and schools; also views of the city (by street and area); and miscellaneous photos of local events and activities, school class portraits, and other group portraits.

This collection of Ann Arbor photographs includes a wide variety of images of Ann Arbor buildings, street scenes, schools and classrooms, public events, and people. The images, dating from the 1860s to the 1970s, has been arranged into three series: Buildings, Houses, etc.; Views; and Activities, People, Events. Each folder may contain one or more images.

The researcher should be advised that this collection represents only a small portion of the library's Ann Arbor photos. The most complete access to the total holdings of the library is through the card catalog.

The records of the city of Ann Arbor, Michigan include council proceedings (1834-1919); assessment rolls (1830, 1839, and 1958-1959); scrapbooks relating to city government (1904-1951); and records and photographs detailing the city's waste management and recycling program beginning in the 1980s. Miscellaneous materials include plats of the wards, 1912; election returns, 1847-1852; records of the former city of East Ann Arbor and the Village of Ann Arbor (Lower Town); and minutes of the Ann Arbor Park Commission (1905-1956). Also of interest are files concerning the Ann Arbor Railroad and the city's street railway and interurban system.

The series in this record group include: Election returns; Bonds; Assessment Rolls; Miscellaneous; City of East Ann Arbor; Council proceedings; Scrapbooks; Ann Arbor Park Commission; Village of Ann Arbor (Lower Town); Photographs; Recycling and Environmental Issues; and Other City Records.

The records of the Ann Arbor Public Schools, cover the numerous districts and schools that developed and then gradually merged into an area school system.

The collection consists of nine series: Ann Arbor Board of Education; Ann Arbor Public Schools Historic Records; Historic School District Records; Pittsfield Township; Administration; Desegregation, Jones School; Scrapbooks; Miscellaneous other records; Directories.

Ann Arbor chapter of national service organization; administrative files, topical files, and publications.

The collection consists of four series: Administration, Music, Projects, and Publications and documents the club's institutional and community activities.