Collection Summary

Title
Weavers Way Cooperative Association Records

Dates
1972-2015         

Collection ID
SCRC 208

Creator
Weavers Way Cooperative Association

Quantity
10.5 linear feet (14 boxes, 4 map folders)         

Repository
Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries

Language
Materials in English.
          
 

Detailed Collection Information

Historical Note
Weavers Way was founded in 1973 in West Mount Airy, a neighborhood in Philadelphia. A cooperatively owned market, Weavers Way grew from a small deli and produce buying club to include two fully staffed and stocked grocery stores in West Mount Airy and Chestnut Hill; Across the Way, a natural pet supply and wellness store in Mount Airy; and Weavers Way Next Door, a natural health and wellness store in Chestnut Hill. In 2015, Weavers Way membership was 5,000 households.

Since its founding, Weavers Way embarked on several cooperative ventures. For example, in addition to offering its members an alternative to the conventional grocery store, for a short time it operated a fuel cooperative and credit union. The Co-op also organized a recycling program and endorsed food boycotts, most notably a boycott on grapes in the 1980s. Weavers Way served as a leader in urban agriculture and the organic foods movement. In the 2000s, it began operating  the Mort Brooks Memorial Farm at Awbury Arboretum, which supplied Weavers Way stores and farmers markets with organically grown produce, and the Henry Got Crops community supported agriculture (CSA) program at W.B. Saul Agricultural High School.

Although owned and governed by its membership, Weavers Way hired a staff to manage its retail stores. Committed to fair compensation, it provided its full time staff with paid vacation time and health insurance. Around 2000, the Co-op discovered fraudulent bookkeeping and was almost bankrupted. Amid the crisis, the Co-op reformed its fiscal practices, members paid a premium on purchases, and staff members took pay cuts. 
 

Description of Collection
 The Weavers Way Cooperative Association Records document the philosophy, operations and management, finances, membership, programming, and newspaper, The Shuttle, of Weavers Way from its 1973 founding to 2015. Records were gathered from members’ homes and staff offices, and include governing documents, including articles of incorporation, mission and bylaws; minutes for board and committee meetings; minutes and other records related to co-op membership, staff, and a variety of affiliated programs and cooperative initiatives. Of note are scant records related to an energy co-op, credit union, recycling program, and endorsed food boycotts. There are financial records dating back to 1976, including records concerning the 2002/2003 “financial crisis.” There are issues of The Shuttle, the Weavers Way newspaper, from 1973 to 2015, and a small collection of photographs and slides featuring members, the store(s), and events.  This collection also includes preserved versions of the organization’s website, available through Archive-It: https://www.archive-it.org/collections/4487.

Organization and Arrangement

 The collection has been arranged at folder level. It is arranged into 8 series as follows:

Series 1: General administrative files, 1972-2012
Series 2: Board records, 1974-2012
Series 3: Committee records, 1974-2010
Series 4: Membership, 1973-2011
Series 5: Financial records, 1976-2012
Series 6: The Shuttle, 1973-2015
Series 7: Photographs and slides, 1978-2000s
Series 8: Website versions in Archive-It, 2015
 

Patron Information

Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Temple University’s online library catalog: https://librarysearch.temple.edu/catalog/991036902703003811

Research Access
Collection is open for research.

Collections Stored Off-Site
This collection may be housed off-site at the Library Depository, and require up to two business days to retrieve. Please review the finding aid and be prepared to identify specific materials to be retrieved. Contact the Special Collections Research Center in advance of your visit, so that materials may be relocated to the reading room for research.

Technical Access
Original audiovisual materials, as well as preservation and duplicating masters, may not be played. Researchers must consult use copies, or if none exist must pay for a use copy. Certain digital files may also be inaccessible. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.

Accruals
Additions to this collection are expected. Websites are captured using Archive-It periodically, and the latest additions may not yet be included in this finding aid. For information on material–physical and digital, including captured websites–that may have been added since the last finding aid update, please contact the Special Collections Research Center.

Publication and Copyright Information
The Weavers Way Co-op Records are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. Intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.

Preferred Citation
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number],Weavers Way Co-op Records, SCRC 208, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Related Material
West Mount Airy Neighbors (Philadelphia, Pa.) Records, Acc. 737, 274, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

East Mount Airy Neighbors (Philadelphia, Pa.) Records, Acc. 305, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Ogontz Area Neighbors Association (Philadelphia, Pa.) Records, Acc. 879, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Benjamin Feldman Papers, Acc. 828, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Ann Spaeth papers on the Chestnut Hill Community Association, 2014 43, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Lloyd Wells papers on Chestnut Hill, 2011 01, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Chestnut Hill Local, 2011 01 and 2014 43, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.


Administrative Information

Acquisition Information
Donated by Weavers Way Cooperative Association, 2015.           

Processing Information
 Collection was minimally processed and finding aid prepared in November 2015 by Courtney Smerz, Collection Management Archivist. Only original boxes and folders in poor condition have been replaced.

 Processing of the small amount of digital materials in the Weavers Way Co-op Records is underway.  Information about their content will be added to the finding aid shortly. In the interim, please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.
         
         
Index Terms

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in Temple University’s electronic catalog:

Corporate Names:
Weavers Way Co-op (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Subjects:
Commerce -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
Community development
Cooperation -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia
Food cooperatives

Places:
Mount Airy (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Philadelphia, Pa.

Material Types:
Administrative records
Articles of incorporation
Born digital
Bylaws (administrative records)
Clippings
Correspondence
Ephemera
Financial records
Floppy disks
Hard drives
Membership lists
Minutes
Newspapers
Photographs
Publications
Slides
Web sites
 

Inventory

Series 1: General administrative files, 1972-2012

1          1          Founding organizational meeting minutes and other related records          1975
1          2          Articles of Incorporation          1974
1          3          Bylaws          1976-2012, undated
1          4          Bylaws          1976-1984
1          5          Bylaws          1978-1983, undated
1          6          Bylaws          1983, 1985, undated
1          7          Mission statement and goals          1999, 2001, 2015
1          8          Archives          2008
M2          A          Architectural drawings, Chestnut Hill Market (plans and elevation)          2009, undated         
M2          A          Architectural drawings, Chestnut Hill Market          2009
M2          A          Architectural drawings, Mount Airy locations          1978, 2002, 2005, undated
M2          A          Architectural drawings, Weavers Way Café          2001-2002
1          9          Brooks, Mort, obituary           2003
1          10          Business plan          2010-2011
1          11          "Central America Information Bulletin"          1987
1          12          Chilly Philly (vendor)          2004, 2005
1          13          City Paper          2005
1          14          City of Philadelphia, documents collected regarding the City and cooperatives          1983-1985
1          15          Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador, newsletter          Circa 1987
1          16          Cooperative Grocers Association of Northeast          1997
1          17          Cooperative Grocer Information Network, research          2002-2003
1          18          Correspondence, plan of operations, and other early records          1972-1986, undated
1          19          Correspondence and other administrative records          1986, 2011, undated
1          20          Delaware Valley Coalition for Consumer Education and Cooperation          1970s
1          21          Delaware Valley Coalition for Consumer Education and Cooperation          1977-1981
1          22          Delaware Valley Coalition for Consumer Education and Cooperation          1978-1981
1          23          Delaware Valley Coalition for Consumer Education and Cooperation          1980-1981
1          24          Delaware Valley Coalition for Consumer Education and Cooperation          circa 1980
1          25          Delaware Valley Coalition for Consumer Education and Cooperation, attempted revival          2000
1          26          "Ends Report"          2009-2010
1          27          Ephemera and printed materials          undated
1          28          Fair food/buy fresh, buy local          2004-2005
1          29          Fairmount Park Commission, certificate of adoption          2003
1          30          Grape boycott          1980s
1          31          Guy, Dorothy. Correspondence and articles          1977-2004
1          32          History of Weavers Way          1980
1          33          History. Reminisces of early days, by Dorothy Guy          1993
1          34          Historical Notes, by Bob Noble          2006
1          35          IT Department          2010
1          36          Information about Weavers Way          1974, undated
1          37          Institute for Integrative Nutrition          2005
1          38          Logo          2004-2005
1          39          Logo and promotional merchandise          2003-2005
1          40          Management Team          2010
1          41          The Mann          2004
1          42          Mt. Airy Arts Garage, certificate of appreciation          2009
1          43          National Cooperative Grocers Association          2005
1          44          Ogontz location          2007-2008
1          45          Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture          2005-2006
1          46          Product philosophy statement          undated
1          47          Product information          undated
1          48          Programs. Community Donations Program          undated
1          49          Programs. Coop Month          1988
1          50          Programs. Energy Coop         
1          51          Programs. Federal credit union          1971, 1978, 2000
1          52          Programs. Mort Brooks Memorial Organic Farm          2001-2003
1          53          Programs. Marketplace program          circa 2004
1          54          Programs. Member loan program          1991-2010
1          55          Programs. Rider's club cooperative          2000
1          56          Programs. Workshop          2002-2005
1          57          Program evaluations          undated
1          58          Progress of Weavers Way, report          1985
1          59          Publicity. Clippings          1970s-2010s
1          60          Publicity. Clippings, Neighborhood relations          1980s-1990s
1          61          Publicity. Clippings          1990s
1          62          Publicity. Clippings (includes photographs)          1998, 2003
1          63          Reference materials on co-op management and history          1979-1987, undated
2          1          Reference materials on co-op management and history, "Expansion Toolbox"          2000
2          2          Reference. Clippings, co-ops          undated
2          3          Reference. Clippings, environment, ecology, food quality          1990s, 2000s
2          4          Reference. Clippings, food trends           1988-1998
2          5          Reference. Clippings, food ideas, recipes           2000-2010
2          6          Reference. Clippings, profiles of people in the neighborhood          2000-2010
2          7          Clippings          1997, 2002
2          8          Schatz, Vivienne, records          1990s
2          9          School House Lane Swim Club          2003
2          10          "The Spirit of Cooperation," film          1993
2          11          Staff. Department Heads meeting minutes and other records          1984-1988
2          12          Staff leadership meeting          2010
2          13          Staff meeting minutes          1980-1981
2          14          Staff meeting minutes          1982-1983
2          15          Staff wage negotiations          1987-1990
2          16          Staff newsletter and other related records          1988, 2008, undated
2          17          Staff. Personnel policy manuals          2005
2          18          Staff. Personnel manual          1995
2          19          Staff manual, "Exceeding Customer Service Expectations at the Coop"          undated, circa 2000
2          20          Staff benefits and compensation          1982-2008
2          21          Steele, Sarah. Rights for limited edition print          2005
M2          A          Storefront sign plans          undated
2          22          Strategic planning          2004-2007
2          23          Summit Church          1998-2003
2          24          Tax exemption status          1976-1977
2          25          Timmerman, Jules, records, including plan of co-op and Weavers Way history          1972-1986
2          26          United Farm Workers, Cesar Chavez          1987
2          27          Village Fair          2007
2          28          W.B. Saul High School          2010
2          29          Washington, LeAnna          2008
7          30          Weavers Way 25th Anniversary (A/V: (4 copies) dvd, VHS)          1998
2          31          "Weavers Way Coop Cookbook"          2000
2          32          "Weavers Way Handbook"          1978
2          33          WHYY pledge drive          undated


Series 2: Board records, 1974-2012

2          34          Officer history          1974-2000
2          35          Member lists          1970s, 1980s
2          36          Training          1986, 2009, undated
2          37          Management and Accountability          1999
2          38          Orientation          2001
2          39          Surveys          2010
2          40          Action/discussion history          1980s-1990s
2          41          Policy manuals          2003-2005
2          42          Policy manuals          2005-2009
2          43          Retreat          1985
2          44          Retreat          1994
2          45          Retreat          1998
2          46          Retreat          1999
2          47          Retreat          2005
2          48          Retreat          2006
2          49          Minutes          1977
2          50          Minutes          1978
2          51          Minutes          1979
2          52          Minutes          1980
2          53          Minutes          1981
2          54          Minutes          1982
2          55          Minutes          1983
2          56          Minutes          1984
2          57          Minutes          1985
2          58          Minutes          1986
2          59          Minutes          1987
2          60          Minutes          1988
2          61          Minutes          1989
3          1          Minutes          1990
3          2          Minutes          1991
3          3          Minutes          1992
3          4          Minutes          1993
3          5          Minutes          1994
3          6          Minutes          1995
3          7          Minutes          1996
3          8          Minutes          1997
3          9          Minutes          1998
3          10          Minutes          1999
3          11          Minutes          2000
3          12          Minutes          2001
3          13          Minutes          2003
3          14          Minutes          2004
3          15          Minutes          2006
3          16          Minutes          2007
3          17          Minutes          2008
3          18          Minutes          2009
3          19          Minutes          2010
3          20          Minutes          2011
3          21          Minutes          2011-2012
3          22          Board packets          1998
3          23          Board packets          1998
3          24          Board packets          1999
3          25          Board packets          1999
3          26          Board packets          2000
3          27          Board packets          2000
3          28          Board packets          2001
3          29          Board packets          2001
3          30          Board packets          2002
3          31          Board packets          2002
3          32          Board packets          2003
3          33          Board packets          2004
3          34          Board packets          2005
3          35          Board packets          2005
3          36          Board packets          2005-2006
3          37          Board packets          2007
4          1          Board packets          2008
4          2          Board packets          2008
4          3          Board packets          2009
4          4          Board packets          2009
4          5          Board packets          2010
4          6          Board packets          2010
4          7          Board packets          2010
4          8          Board packets          2011
                 

Series 3: Committee records, 1974-2010

4          9          General information on committees          1992
4          10          Weavers Way Coop Committee Policy Statements and Report/Review Guidelines          1999
4          11          Ad Hoc Building Acquisition Committee          1999
4          12          Building Committee          1974-187
4          13          Community Relations Committee          1986-1987
4          14          Cookbook Committee          1998
4          15          Development Committee          1992-1999
4          16          Development Committee          1993-2000
4          17          Development Committee (Dorothy Guy)          1995-2000
4          18          Diversity and Outreach Committee          1999-2002
4          19          Editorial Committee (The Shuttle)          1994-1995
4          20          Education Committee          1990, 1998-2002
4          21          Education Committee          before 1992
4          22          Education Committee          1992-1995
4          23          Education Committee          1998-2004
4          24          Environment Committee          1993-2002
4          25          Environment Committee          2003-2007
4          26          Environment Committee          2004-2005
4          27          Environment Committee, food auditing          2006
4          28          Environment Committee, pesticides on imported produce          1991
4          29          Environment Committee, partnership recycling          2005
4          30          Environment Committee, partnership recycling          2006
4          31          Environment Committee, partnership recycling          2005-2006
4          32          Environment Committee, partnership recycling          2007
4          33          Environment Committee, partnership recycling          2007
4          34          Environment Committee, recycling agreements          2002-2007
4          35          Expansion [Committee]          1976, 1985-1987
4          36          Expansion [Committee]          1986
4          37          Expansion [Committee]          1990-1991
4          38          Expansion [Committee]          2000s
4          39          Farm/garden Committee          1999-2002
4          40          Farm/garden Committee          2001-2002
4          41          Finance Committee          1993-1997
4          42          Finance Committee          1999-2002
4          43          Leadership Committee/Nominating Committee          1994, 2000-2002
4          44          Library sub-committee          1988
4          45          Management advisory committee          1978, 1988, 1989
4          46          Membership Committee          before 1998
4          47          Membership Committee          1998-2002
4          48          Membership Committee          2003-2010
4          49          Merchandising Committee          before 1997
4          50          Merchandising Committee          1997-2002
5          1          Operations Committee          1993-1997
5          2          Operations Committee          1996-1999
5          3          Operations Committee          1998-2002
5          4          Operations Committee          undated
5          5          Policy Governance Committee          1995-2001
5          6          Policy Governance Committee          2004-2005
5          7          Resource Committee          1990
5          8          Structure and Function Committee          1991
5          9          Wage and Compensation Committee          1998-1999


Series 4: Membership, 1973-2011

5          10          General Membership Meeting minutes          1973
5          11          General Membership Meeting minutes          1976
5          12          General Membership Meeting minutes          1977
5          13          General Membership Meeting minutes          1978
5          14          General Membership Meeting minutes          1979
5          15          General Membership Meeting minutes          1980
5          16          General Membership Meeting minutes          1981
5          17          General Membership Meeting minutes          1982
5          18          General Membership Meeting minutes          1983
5          19          General Membership Meeting minutes          1984
5          20          General Membership Meeting minutes          1985
5          21          General Membership Meeting minutes          1986
5          22          General Membership Meeting minutes          1987
5          23          General Membership Meeting minutes          1988
5          24          General Membership Meeting minutes          1989
5          25          General Membership Meeting minutes          1990
5          26          General Membership Meeting minutes          1991
5          27          General Membership Meeting minutes          1992
5          28          General Membership Meeting minutes          1993
5          29          General Membership Meeting minutes          1994
5          30          General Membership Meeting minutes          1995
5          31          General Membership Meeting minutes          1996
5          32          General Membership Meeting minutes          1997
5          33          General Membership Meeting minutes          1998
5          34          General Membership Meeting minutes          1999
5          35          General Membership Meeting minutes          2000
5          36          General Membership Meeting minutes          2001
5          37          General Membership Meeting minutes          2002
5          38          General Membership Meeting minutes          2004
5          39          General Membership Meeting minutes          2006
5          40          General Membership Meeting minutes          2007
5          41          General Membership Meeting minutes          2008
5          42          General Membership Meeting minutes          2009
5          43          General Membership Meeting minutes          2010
5          44          General Membership Meeting minutes          2011
5          45          General Membership Meeting minutes          undated
5          46          General Membership Meeting packets          1999
5          47          General Membership Meeting packets          2000
5          48          General Membership Meeting packets          2000
5          49          General Membership Meeting packets          2001
5          50          General Membership Meeting packets          2001
5          51          General Membership Meeting packets          2002
5          52          General Membership Meeting packets          2002
5          53          General Membership Meeting packets          2003
5          54          General Membership Meeting packets          2003
5          55          General Membership Meeting packets          2004
5          56          General Membership Meeting packets          2004
5          57          General Membership Meeting packets          2008
5          58          General Membership Meeting packets          2008
5          59          General Membership Meeting packets          2010
5          60          Member handbooks          1985, 1993
5          61          Communication with members          1974
5          62          Communication with members          1975
5          63          Communication with members. Report to membership          1987
5          64          Communication with members. "Neighbor Notes," newsletter          1987
5          65          Communication with members. Community meeting on crime          1999
5          66          Communication with members. Survey          1999
5          67          Communication with members. Diversity          2004
5          68          Communication with members. Survey          2006
5          69          Communication with members. Event planning          2009-2010
5          70          Membership. Miscellaneous records          1974-2010

                   
Series 5: Financial records, 1976-2012

5          71          Budget          2009-2012
5          72          Contracts          1979, 2000s
5          73          Financial statement and report          1976, 1978
5          74          Financial statements and/or other related materials          1976-1985
5          75          Financial statements and/or other related materials          1976-1985
5          76          Financial statements and/or other related materials          1982-1983
5          77          Financial statements and/or other related materials          1983-1984
5          78          Financial statements and/or other related materials          1985-1990
5          79          Financial statements and/or other related materials          2002
5          80          Financial statements and/or other related materials (post "crisis")          2003
5          81          Financial statements and/or other related materials          2004
5          82          Financial statements and/or other related materials          2008
5          83          Financial statements and/or other related materials          2008-2011
5          84          Financial statements and/or other related materials          2011
5          85          Financial statements and/or other related materials          2011
5          86          Financial statements and/or other related materials          2011
5          87          Loan          2005
5          88          Sales tax payment plan          2002-2003
6          1          "Financial Crisis." Communication with members          2002-2003
6          2          "Financial Crisis." Clippings          2002-2003
6          3          "Financial Crisis." Recovery, "Save Weavers Way"          2003
6          4          "Financial Crisis." Recovery Committee          2003-2005
6          5          "Financial Crisis." Recovery, devaluation          2003
6          6          "Financial Crisis." Accountability Committee          2003-2005
6          7          "Financial Crisis." Miscellaneous records          2003-2005

                   
Series 6: The Shuttle, 1973-2015       

6          8          Newsletter          1973
8          1          The Shuttle          1973-1974
8          2          The Shuttle          1973-1974
6          9          The Shuttle          1975
6          10          The Shuttle          1976
6          11          The Shuttle          1977
6          12          The Shuttle          1978
6          13          The Shuttle          1979
6          14          The Shuttle          1980
6          15          The Shuttle          March/April 1992
8          3          The Shuttle          1981
8          4          The Shuttle          1982
8          5          The Shuttle          1983
8          6          The Shuttle          1984
8          7          The Shuttle          1985
8          8          The Shuttle          1986
8          9          The Shuttle          1987
8          10          The Shuttle          1988
8          11          The Shuttle          1989
8          12          The Shuttle          1990
8          13          The Shuttle          1991
8          14          The Shuttle          1992
9          1          The Shuttle          1993
9          2          The Shuttle          1994
9          3          The Shuttle          1995
9          4          The Shuttle          1996
9          5          The Shuttle          1997
9          6          The Shuttle          1998
9          7          The Shuttle          1999
10          1          The Shuttle          2000
10          2          The Shuttle          2001
10          3          The Shuttle          2002
10          4          The Shuttle          2003
10          5          The Shuttle          2004
11          1          The Shuttle          2005
11          2          The Shuttle          2006
11          3          The Shuttle          2007
11          4          The Shuttle          2008
12          1          The Shuttle          2009
12          2          The Shuttle          2010
13          1          The Shuttle          2011
13          2          The Shuttle          2012
13          3          The Shuttle          2013
14          1          The Shuttle          2014
14          2          The Shuttle          2015
6          16          Advertising          1995-1996
6          17          Article submissions and advertising          1996
6          18          Advertising          1996
6          19          The Shuttle          November 1996
6          20          Board of Editors          1990s
6          21          Artwork          undated
6          22          Photographs          undated
6          23          Submissions deadline sign (from Co-op bulletin board?)          undated

                   
Series 7: Photographs and slides, 1978-2000s        

 6          24          Affiliated programs          2000, 2013, undated
 6          25          Anniversary celebrations          1998
 6          26          Events: Village Fair, Mt. Airy Day, Halloween, and others          1980s-2000s
 6          27          Expansions and renovations          1992-1994
 6          28          Staff headshots          2004
 6          29          Miscellaneous (1:2)          1980s-2000s
 6          30          Miscellaneous (2:2)          1980s-2000s
 7          1          Miscellaneous          1990s
 7          2          Miscellaneous          1990s, undated
 7          3          Miscellaneous (1:2)          1990s, 2000s, undated
 7          4          Miscellaneous (2:2)          1990s, 2000s, undated
 7          5          Miscellaneous          undated
 7          6          Miscellaneous (1:2)          1994
 7          7          Miscellaneous (2:2)          1994
 7          8          Miscellaneous          1996
 7          9          Miscellaneous (1:3)          1999-2000
 7          10          Miscellaneous (2:3)          1999-2000
 7          11          Miscellaneous (3:3)          1999-2000
 14          3          Miscellaneous          1999-2001
 7          12          Miscellaneous           undated
 7          13          Miscellaneous (1:3)          undated
 7          14          Miscellaneous (2:3)          undated
 7          15          Miscellaneous (3:3)          undated
 7          16          Slides          1978-1999
 7          17          Slides          1978-1999


Series 8:Website versions in Archive-It, 2015

Series 8 contains preserved versions of the Weavers Way Co-op’s website. To access these sites, see the Temple University Special Collections Weavers Way Co-op records Archive-It web page: https://www.archive-it.org/collections/4487