Cooperative societies were created long before the advent of the fair-trade movement to help workers improve their livelihoods and protect their interests.
History of Cooperatives in the United States an overview 
Cooperative Unification Highlights From 1989 To Early 1999 
About United States of America Cooperatives 
A Brief History of Affordable Housing Cooperatives In the United States 
Significant Dates in Cooperative History 
Rich History of Associations 
History of NonProfits 
History of Cooperatives UW 
Brief History of Cooperative Housing 
A History of Housing Cooperatives