Kupono Cooperative House Scrapbook, 1939-1943

Title: Kupono Cooperative House Scrapbook, 1939-1943

ID: MSS Kupono

Primary Creator: Kupono Cooperative House (Oregon State College)

Extent: 0.15 cubic feet. More info below.

Languages of Materials: English [eng]

Abstract

The Kupono Cooperative House Scrapbook documents the membership and activities of this housing cooperative for men students at Oregon State College. The scrapbook includes descriptions of activities, lists of members, newspaper clippings, ephemera, dance cards, and photographs. The scrapbook has been digitized, and reference access is available upon patron request.

Scope and Content Notes

The Kupono Cooperative House Scrapbook documents the membership and activities of this housing cooperative for Oregon State College men students in 1939-1943, during the early years of World War II and the years immediately preceding the war. The scrapbook includes descriptions of activities, lists of members, newspaper clippings, ephemera, dance cards, and photographs. The newspaper clippings report on social events, intramurals, and honors and activities of members. Of special note is a written description and newspaper clipping about the April 1941 campus lecture by Bernard Squires, Executive Secretary of the Seattle Urban League, on Racial Minorities in the Colleges. Squires was a dinner guest at the Kupono House during his visit and "spoke of the race problem on our campus" with members.

The photographs depict exterior and interior views of the house, house members, activities and events, snow at the house, a "clothes heap" in the living room, and the members' mothers visiting for Mothers Weekend.

The scrapbook has been digitized, and reference access is available upon patron request.

Biographical / Historical Notes

The Kupono Cooperative House was formed in September 1938 at 342 South 10th Street and consisted of five male Oregon State College students and the mother of three of them who acted as house mother and cook. The cooperative was formally established in the fall of 1939 and had 30 members during the 1939-1940 academic year. Kupono was the first cooperative established at Oregon State College. The name "Kupono" was selected from the Esperanto or universal language and means "dividends assured". A fixed amount was charged to each member per month for room and board with the understanding that whatever was remaining after all expenses were paid would be divided among the members. The house closed at the end of spring term in 1943, with the intent of re-opening after the war.

Administrative Information

More Extent Information: 18 photographs; 1 oversize box

Statement on Access: Collection is open for research.

Related Materials:

The Special Collections and Archives Research Center holds materials documenting several OSU cooperative houses including the Avery Lodge Records (MSS Avery), the Azalea House Records (MSS Azalea), the Campus Club Alumni Collection (MSS CampusClub), the Dixon Lodge Records (MSS Dixon), the Oxford House Records (MSS Oxford), and the Maple Manor Cooperative House Records (MSS MapleManor).

The University Housing and Dining Services Records (RG 145) reflect the administration of cooperative housing at OSU and contain scrapbooks assembled by residents of Heckart Lodge and Reed Lodge cooperative residences.

Preferred Citation: Kupono Cooperative House Scrapbook (MSS Kupono), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.

Creators

People, Places, and Topics

African Americans--Oregon--Corvallis.
Clubs--Oregon--Corvallis.
College students--Oregon--Corvallis.
Housing, Cooperative--Oregon--Corvallis.
Kupono Cooperative House (Oregon State College)
Minority college students.
Oregon Multicultural Archives
Oregon State College--Student housing.
Oregon State College--Students.
Squires, Bernard E., 1904-1947
Student activities--Oregon--Corvallis.
Student housing--Oregon--Corvallis.
University History