Cooperative Movement

Community activity, meaning mutual cooperation and help, has been associated with humanity throughout its history. From the beginning of time, people have come together to help each other and to lend different and specific services, under different forms of integration.

Historians, however, refer to 1844 as the year when cooperatives emerged as a doctrine in the service of humankind. In Puerto Rico, the experience dates back to 1873, when a charismatic and enthusiast labor union leader by the name of Santiago Andrade Caballero founded a society called Socorro Mutuo Los Amigos del Bien Público. Convinced of the advantages of this type of organization, the people of Puerto Rico started creating similar institutions such as La Provisora, Caridad Cristiana, San Rafael Benefactora and others with these characteristics.

Between 1870 and 1900, other leaders surfaced. Among these leaders were José Celso Barbosa, Rosendo Matienzo Cintrón, and Eugenio María de Hostos.

Aditional Information courtesy of:
Alianza Cooperativa Internacional en Las Américas
(The links below are in Spanish)

Principles & Values
Cooperativism Symbols

For more information, please call our
Information Center-Library at 758-8585 ext. 2132.