Maisie, a volunteer at the Co-op Archive, has worked on the rule book collection, cleaning, adding new material and ensuring the list of physical items is up to date to support access and research. In this blog, she talks about her experience:

Having never come across rule books before, and relatively new to the world of co-operation, I have learned a great deal over the past few months. Rule books reveal so much about their respective societies and the communal identity of their members, making this a rich collection for further study.

Rules for Leeds Co-operative Plasterers' Society, 1899, Rule book collection, Co-op Archive.

What are rule books? 

Every co-operative society has a rule book. Co-operative rule books serve as blueprints for the government of co-operative societies, detailing the principles, regulations, and procedures that members have to follow. They cover a range of topics, from the society’s title and objectives, to membership criteria, management structure and the distribution of profits. These rules adhere to the core principles of the co-operative movement: open membership, mutual aid, democratic control, and the equitable distribution of resources.

Where do they come from? 

Many co-op societies base their principles on the Rochdale Model, the principles that the Rochdale Pioneers set out in 1844. Known as 'Law First', this document laid the foundation for the rules and objectives of later co-operative societies. Law First records the objectives of the Pioneers; such as establishing a store, building houses for members, manufacturing goods and purchasing land to provide work for those who needed it.

What are they used for?

Rule books provide clear instructions on how societies will be run, compelling them to operate fairly and transparently. These books allow members to stay informed, and help in resolving disputes, holding leadership to account, and ensuring fair and equal treatment. Whilst they all tend to include the same core information, rule books are tailored to the needs of individual societies. This means that the significance of these books extends beyond their practical use, offering a window into the values and priorities of the communities that created them.

Our collection 

The archive’s collection of rule books constitute endless research potential. The collection ranges from the late nineteenth to the twenty-first century, and spans a wide geographical area, documenting the spread of Co-operation from Scotland to Cornwall. The collection also includes a rule book from Tanjore, India (Nicholson Town Bank Limited, 1905).

Rules for Nicholson Town Bank, Tanjore, India, 1905. Rule book collection, Co-op Archive.

Many industries are represented in the collection, capturing the diverse range of communities that embraced the co-operative model, from bustling urban centres to small rural villages. Many of the societies featured in the archive sport intriguing names, such as the International Stick Manufactory Limited (1889), the Heapey Busy Bee Co-operative Society (1901), and the Calderdale Co-operative Clog Sundries Manufacturing Society Limited (1891, 1906). As such, the archive captures the rich history of local culture, trade, and community spirit that underpinned the Co-operative Movement.

Remember when clogs were all the rage?

Rules for Calderdale Co-op Sundries, 1906. Rule book collection, Co-op Archive. 

Some societies featured in the archive have multiple rule books. The rule books of the London Co-operative Society Limited comprise the majority of the archive box I am currently sorting through, and are accompanied by significant supporting documentation. This is likely because larger societies with more resources produced more records, and in this case, multiple amendments over the years. Other societies did not enjoy the same longevity, possibly on account of their scale or the staying power of their industries. Few historical archives can claim to be complete, however, and many of these books have been lost to time or remain in private ownership.

Rule books for Halifax industrial Society Ltd, Rule book collection, Co-op Archive

There is great diversity amongst the rule books held by the Co-operative Heritage Trust. Some are bound with high quality material, others boast beautiful cover designs, and others still are relatively plain, printed over a couple of sheets of paper.

Some books include more than just rules. The Guernsey Growers’ Association Rule Book from 1896 includes multiple pages of advertisements, written partially in French.

Cover of rule book for the Guernsey Growers'  Association Rule Book, 1896, Rule book collection, Co-op Archive

What better way to break up rules than an extensive shopping catalogue? 

The level of engagement with these books is telling of their vital importance. Many of the rule books in the collection are annotated as members took time to highlight, strike, and revise key passages. These books were deeply personal items, often bearing the names of their owners and sometimes enclosed certificates of membership.

Rules of Blackburn Co-operative Society Ltd, 1950, Rule book collection, Co-op Archive.

Why are rule books significant? 

The significance of rule books cannot be understated. Procedural in nature, they can make for dry reads, but encoded within the rules is a language of shared values and principles unique to each society and the spirit of co-operation as a whole.

Rule books provide an insight into how co-operative societies governed themselves and responded to change over time. The many full or partial amendments accompanying these rule books show us how members actively altered the rules to better suit their needs, hinting at a hidden world of discussions, debates and resolutions in the pursuit of a fairer society. 

You can book in to see the rules books and other items we hold at the Co-operative Archive in Manchester. To request material and book a space in the archive, please see our 'Visit the Archive' page.