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We hope that this page will help to answer the questions we are most
frequently asked and will be adding answers to further questions when
they arise.
If you have any questions you would like to see included please let
us know by email.
Q. Do I need to visit or
can you do research for me?
A. As the Archive has a small staff, we are unable to fulfil major research
requests. Staff members are able to answer simple enquiries which require
no more than 15 minutes of research. If further research is required
we will give you an indication of the resources available and suggest
that you come in to the Archive yourself or engage a professional researcher
to complete the research on your behalf. The Manchester Archives and
Local Studies website has a list of professional researchers in the
area: http://www.gmcro.co.uk/family_history/agents.htm
FAQ Index
Q. Does the 'co-op' just
have grocery shops?
A. In the UK many people think of ‘the co-op’ as one business.
In fact the UK co-operative sector is made up of many independent organisations
involved in many different types of activities. Directory
of UK co-operatives.
At the turn of the twentieth century there were approximately 1,500
separate consumer co operative societies. Over the years these have
merged together to form the 40 consumer co-operative societies operating
today. In addition to food retail, co-operatives are involved in:
- Consumer co-operatives (including travel, funeral, banking, insurance,
communications, motor sales)
- Worker co-operatives
- Housing co-operatives
- Agricultural co-operatives
- Credit unions
- Leisure trusts
- Health co-operatives
FAQ Index
Q. What happened to 'the
divi'?
A. Many people remember their parents’ or grandparents’
‘divi’ number, or being sent along to the local co-op shop
for groceries.In most businesses the profits made would benefit the
owners or shareholders. In co-operatives the profits of the shop were
shared with their members in the form of a ‘dividend’, also
called the ‘divi’. The profits were distributed in proportion
to the amount each member spent in the store.
Members were often given dividend tokens showing the amount they had
spent in the store. The tokens would then be exchanged when the dividend
was distributed - on ‘Divi Day’. In the 1930s, members would
often receive 15p (3 shillings) for each pound they spent.
Over the years each individual co-operative society has adapted the
dividend system in different ways, according to the wishes of the society’s
members. Some use the traditional system, others distribute the dividend
to community groups.
FAQ Index
Q. I have an old share book.
Who can I contact about the share account?
A. The Co-op Online Directory has a Share Book search http://www.cooponline.coop/
You can use this to find out the name of the co-operative society you
need to contact. It will also provide you with the current contact details.
FAQ Index
Q. What are milk tokens?
A. For many years, co-operative societies used commodity tokens. Members
would go into their society’s shops to buy tokens for milk, bread
or coal and the amount they spent would be registered for their dividend
payments. The member would then give the tokens to the milkmen, bread
or coal roundsmen in return for the items they needed.
FAQ Index
Q. What co-operative family
history resources are there?
A. Please see our Family
History research guide (pdf 148kb)
FAQ Index
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