Guide to the Medford Cooperative Creamery Co.​ Records,​ 1915-​1965

Summary Information

Title: Medford Cooperative Creamery Co. Records

Inclusive Dates: 1915-1965

Creator: Medford Cooperative Creamery Co. (Wis.)

Call Number: Eau Claire Mss BC

Quantity: 4.0 c.f. (4 record center cartons)

Repository: Housed at the Area Research Center, William D. McIntyre Library, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Library-Archives Division

Archival Locations: UW-Eau Claire McIntyre Library / Eau Claire Area Research Ctr. Abstract: Records of a Medford, Wis., cooperative incorporated for the purpose of manufacturing butter, powdered dried milk, and other milk products, which merged with Consolidated Badger Cooperative, Shawano, in 1962. The collection includes annual reports to the Secretary of State, annual financial reports, articles of incorporation, by-laws, minutes, tax records, a few land and legal records, and daybooks recording amounts paid for milk and cream to individual members. There are very few letters, personnel records, or production records.

Language: English

Search Terms/Subject Terms

• Dairy plants—Wisconsin
• Dairy products—Wisconsin—Cooperative marketing
• Dairying—Wisconsin—Medford
• Dairying, Cooperative—Wisconsin

Biography/History

The Medford Cooperative Creamery Company was incorporated in June 1915, for the purpose of manufacturing butter, powdered dried milk, and other milk products. Other products added to the line included fluid milk and dried milk-based animal feed. The business initially was capitalized at 5,000 dollars, and shares of stock were sold to members. Later shares were distributed to members based on their deliveries of milk as well as the profits of the cooperative. A new creamery building was constructed in 1921, with additions in 1926, 1941, and 1943-1944. The company also owned processing plants at Stetsonville and Hannibal (which burned in 1954).

In 1961, the board of directors recognized that the cooperative had operating losses and other problems caused by a reduction in the number of producing members and the general manager. At a special meeting on 9 January 1961, the board agreed to enter into a general management contract with Consolidated Badger Cooperative, Shawano, with a view toward eventual consolidation of the two cooperatives. The cooperative's assets were sold to Consolidated Badger Cooperative, as of 1 February 1962. All Medford producers became members of Consolidated Badger Cooperative, which continued to provide marketing for their milk. The Medford Cooperative Creamery Company was dissolved in December 1962.

Scope and Content Note

The collection includes minutes and financial and other corporate records of the Medford Cooperative Creamery Co., but very little correspondence, salary and personnel records, or production records.

Predominant in the collection are annual reports to the Secretary of State, 1937, 19391944, 1946-1963, and annual reports of financial condition. These, together with the articles and certificate of incorporation, by-laws, a lengthy run of minutes, 1917-1962, and a substantial file of tax returns, work sheets, exhibits, correspondence concerning taxes, and receipts, comprise the most informative portion of the collection. Other records include a file of contracts and purchase records for a new building and equipment, and such financial records as bank notes and loan records, and dividend reports, Financial volumes include a general ledger, 1959-1962; cream account book 1915-1916; and daybooks or journals, 1918-1962; which record both daily and semimonthly summaries of amounts paid to individual members. There are also small files pertaining to land, factory, and equipment purchases, including legal documents, blueprints, and other records. Other legal records consist of deeds, including the deeds of the original creamery properties, general legal records and routine correspondence with attorneys, and papers from a workman's compensation lawsuit. The only production records of any sort are a few scattered milk test records.

Related Material

Related records are those of consolidated Badger Cooperative, Shawano, Wisconsin, located at the Green Bay Area Research Center.

Administrative/Restriction Information

Acquisition Information

Presented by Morning Glory Farms, Shawano, Wisconsin, via John Lang, 1985. Accession Number: M85-351

Processing Information

Processed by Alex Draghicchio and Menzi Behrnd-Klodt, 1987.