Co-operation as a Culture Pattern Within a Community.

HOWELL (Mich.); MICHIGAN; UNITED States

The development of a culture pattern within a local community is illustrated by the co-operative activities, both formal and informal, which occurred in the community of Howell, Michigan. The community is a comparatively old, well-established one. Its total population was approximately 8.000 of whom 3,615 persons resided in the city of Howell, a county seat. The population is predominantly native white and the cultural characteristics of this group tend to prevail. Formal co-operative activities began to the 1890's with the formation of the Livingston County Holstein Friesian Association and were extended gradually to the following: (1) A Dairy Herd Improvement Association; (2) A Farmers' Co-operative Association; and (3) the Livingston County Veterinary Service. The more informal co-operative activities included the establishment of a community hospital, a public library, the organization of charities, and the development of various town-county relationships. As these activities developed gradually, the exact time when the pattern of Co-operation appeared cannot be determined with exactness. It seems logical to conclude, however, that it appeared when, and to the extent that, the people accepted the idea of Co-operation irrespective of any specific activity and were ready to apply it as occasion demanded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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