Tobolsk District Union of Consumer Societies in 1920s-1940s: a Historical Digression

Abstract

The history of the formation of the Tobolsk District Union of Consumer Societies is studied. Archival materials are introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. The organizational and legal issues of the creation of the Tobolsk Union of Consumer Cooperatives and the network of societies that were part of it are studied. An attempt was made to comprehend the role of the Tobolsk cooperation in the life of the region, as well as the activities of its leaders, their participation in cooperative life. It was found that since the formation of the cooperation, it was possible to create a wide trading, procurement and grassroots network, consisting of 41 companies and 50,000 shareholders. The presented results indicate that the all-Russian trends in the development of consumer cooperation (both positive and negative) were also inherent in the cooperation of Tobolsk. The factors that influenced the work of consumer societies were identified: ignorance of the demand and needs for goods among the population, the presence of waste and theft among cooperators, unprofitability of some cooperatives, lack of control over trade and procurement operations. The composition and size of the management apparatus of the trade and procurement and grassroots network are described in the article. The admitted excesses in its activity are analyzed. The main stages of the formation and development of consumer cooperation are outlined.