Cal State LA Special Collections & Archives Federal Employees’ Distributing Company (FEDCO) Collection Title: Federal Employees’ Distributing Company (FEDCO) Collection Collection Number: 2017.001 Creator: Unknown Dates: 1957-2000 Extent: 79.42 linear ft. Repository: California State University, Los Angeles, John F. Kennedy Memorial Library, Special Collections and Archives Location: Special Collections, Palmer, 4th floor Room 4048 - A, Map Case 1 Room 2079 Provenance: Unknown Processing Information: Processed by Jourdan Pineda 2017. Arrangement: The collection is organized into four Series: I. Achievements; II. Publications; III. Large Frames; IV. Photographic Materials. Three of the four series consist of subseries. Series I. Achievements is organized into three subseries: a. Plaques; b. Awards; c. Trophies; d. Certificates. Series II. Publications is organized into four subseries: a. Fedco Reporter; b. Sales Books; c. Fedco Documents; d. Gift Books. Series IV. Photographic Materials is organized into two subseries: a.Photographs; b. Negatives. Copyright: The Federal Employees’ Distributing Company Collection is the physical property of California State University, Los Angeles, John F. Kennedy Memorial Library, Special Collections and Archives. Preferred Citation: Folder title, Series, Box number, Collection title, followed by Special Collections and Archives, John F. Kennedy Memorial Library, California State University, Los Angeles Historical/Biographical Note The Federal Employees’ Distributing Company (FEDCO), was a non-profit organization department store which provided customers with a one stop shop experience. Based in Santa Fe Springs and opened in 1948, Fedco was 1 considered to be one of the most successful superstores of its time. The company was founded by 800 Los Angeles postal workers who sought relief from the post war economy. Fedco had 13 retail stores in Southern California, most of which were located in the Los Angeles area. Locations included Ontario, San Diego, San Bernardino, Costa Mesa, Cerritos, La Cienega, and Baldwin Hills. To gain access and purchase FEDCO’s merchandise, a membership was required. In just 5 years of operation Fedco acquired more than 50,000 members. Members received a subscription to the Fedco Reporter, special discounts of items, and FEDCO related news. Through the 1980s and 1990s FEDCO could not compete with other superstores such as Walmart, Target, Kmart, Costco, Best Buy, and Macy’s. Limited only to the Southern California area surrounding Los Angeles, Fedco could not compete with its nationwide competitors resulting in the company to declare bankruptcy in 1999. The Dayton Hudson Corporation bought the company for $120 million and replaced the 13 Fedco retail buildings with Target. Throughout FEDCO’s 50 years of operation they have won numerous awards from various corporations such as Duracell, Disney, and Kodak. Scope and Content The materials for this collection were created from 1957-2000. This collection consists of photographs, publications, and achievements related to FEDCO and their partners. The bulk of this collection are trophies and awards. A series of the FEDCO reporter and sale books are also included within this collection. Lastly, documents pertaining to staff schedules and other FEDCO documentation. Series Description Series I: Achievements Inclusive Dates: 1970-1999 Arrangement: Alphabetical This large series consists of awards, trophies, and certificates from various companies. Sale milestones, partnerships, plaques, and employee of the month awards are included in this series. Sale milestones, partnerships, and certificates of appreciation are included in this series. 2 Series II: Publications Inclusive Dates: 1957-1996 Arrangement: Alphabetical This series includes the FEDCO Reporter, sales books, and gift books. The FEDCO Reporter is a magazine for FEDCO members, which includes item descriptions, deals, and special events for customers. Throughout the year, FEDCO released sales books to members with various deals related to the season. During the holidays, FEDCO gave members gift books as a guide to buying presents and special deals. Series III: Large Frames Inclusive Dates: 1953-1984 Arrangement: Alphabetical This series consists of large framed artwork of Fedco locations and images of FEDCO buildings are included in this series. The First Fedco Reporter framed and included in this series. Items in this series are heavy, large, and wide. Series IV: Photographic Materials Inclusive Dates: U.D. Arrangement: Size This series consists of two subseries: a.Photographs; b. Negatives photographs and negatives of FEDCO. The arrangement is based on photograph size. The photographs depict parking lots, shopping aisles (garden, hardware, electronics, toys, and food). Noteworthy, there are two photographs depicting the condition of the La Cienega Location after the LA riots. Photographs of other retail stores are included, such as Costco and Marshalls. Container List 3 Box 1 Series 1: Achievements, 1970-1999 Subseries a: Plaques, 1936-1996 AC Delco Plaque, 1988 AC Delco Plaque, 1989 Aisles of Smiles Plaque, 1988 Aisles of Smiles Plaque, 1989 Amity Plaque, 1992 Brother Plaque, 1991 Brother Plaque, 1991 Campfire Plaque, 1993 Casio Plaque, 1996 Castrol Leadership Plaque, 1988 Century Member Plaque, u.d Disney Toy Story, u.d. Duracell Plaque, 1989 Duracell Plaque, 1990 Duracell Plaque, 1992 Box 2 Employee of the Month Plaque, January - December 1989 Employee of the Month Plaque, January - December 1990 Employee of the Month Plaque, January - December 1991 4 Employee of the Month Plaque, January - December 1992 Employee of the Month Plaque, January - November 1993 Equal Award, 1994 Fantasia Plaque, u.d. Fedco Golden Circle Club Plaque, u.d. First Alert Plaque, 1970 GE Capital Plaque, 1992 Girl Scout Plaque, 1990 Girl Scouts Plaque, 1992 Gold Dustpan Plaque, 1989 Goodyear Plaque, u.d. Gorilla Plaque, 1994 Box 3 Guardian Member Plaque, 1990 Guardian Member Plaque, 1993 Guardian Member Plaque, 1994 Guardian Member Plaque, u.d. Hershey's Chocolate Plaque, u.d. Johnson Johnson Plaque, 1978 KCET Plaque, u.d. Kodak Plaque, 1992 Kodak Plaque, 1993 5 Lion King Plaque, u.d. L’Oréal Plaque, 1994 M&M Mars Plaque, 1991 Box 4 Olympus Partnership Plaque, 1992 Olympus Partnership Plaque, 1993 Olympus Partnership Plaque, 1994 Patron Member1 Plaque, 1984 Phone Mate, 1989 Phone Mate, 1991 Phone Mate, 1992 PhoneMate, 1990 PhoneMate, 1993 Playtex Apparel Plaque, 1989 Polaroid Award, 1989 Proudly We Hail Plaque, u.d. Box 5 Raindrop Plaque, 1990 Santa Fe Springs 31nd Anniversary Parade Plaque, April 20, 1988 Santa Fe Springs 32nd Anniversary Parade Plaque, April 29, 1989 Santa Fe Springs Plaque, 1977 Sanyo Fisher Plaque, 1992 6 Sanyo Fisher Plaque 1993 Schick Razors Plaque, u.d. Schick Razors Plaque, u.d. Skil Corporation, December 31, 1936 Slick 50 Plaque, 1991 Soaring Dreams Plaque, January 22, 1993 Solidex Plaque, 1990 Solidex Plaque, 1991 Tylenol Scholarship Fund Plaque, 1992 United States Playing Card Company Plaque, 1994 Box 6 Whirlpool Home Appliances Plaque, u.d. Whistler Plaque, January 2, 1992 Woodstream Corporation Plaque, 1994 Box 7 Subseries b: Awards, 1983-1998 Academy of Television of Arts and Sciences Award, 1988 Award Stand, u.d. Big Hitter Award, 1990-1991 Box 8 Big Hitter Award, 1991-1992 Big Hitter Award, 1992-1993 7 Box 9 Case Logic Award, 1991 Case Logic Award, 1992 Box 10 CRW Top 100 Award, 1995 Dial Corporations Award, 1987 Dial Corporations Award, 1988 Duracell in Recognition of Outstanding Sales Performance, 1994 Eureka Company Award, January 1994 Box 11 Excellence Together Award, u.d. Golden Kiwi Award, 1994 Golden Sock Award, 1992 Golden Sock Award, 1995 Golden Sock Award, 1998 Box 12 Golden Sock Award, 1998 Good Year Award, u.d. Good Year Award, u.d. Good Year Award, u.d. Holder for Excellence Together Award, u.d. Kem Tek Award, 1992 8 Kodak Award, 1993 Kwikset Award, u.d. Laserline Award, 1993 Mortal Kombat Award, u.d. Box 13 News Article Frame, May 21st Nintendo Mario Award, 1993 Outstanding Performance Award, 1983 Paramount Interactive Award, 1994 Pulsar Award Fedco, u.d. R.G Barry Corp Award, u.d. Simple Green Award, 1989 Box 14 Subseries c: Certificates, 1987-1999 10 Years of Service, u.d. 20 Years of Service, u.d. 25 Years of Service, u.d. American Legion Certificate, u.d. American Red Cross Certificate, 1989 City of Los Angeles Document 19, May 6, 1993 National Council of Aging, March 12-18, 1989 Printing Industry of America, 1998 9 RR Donnelley and Sons Document, December 21, 1992 Southern Christian Leadership Conference, u.d. Suave Plaque, 1987 United Way Certificate, 1998-1999 United Way Inc., 1998-1999 Box 15 Series II: Publications, 1957-2000 Subseries a: Fedco Reporter, 1959-1996 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1959 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1960 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1961 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1962 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1963 Box 16 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1964 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1965 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1966 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1967 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1968 Box 17 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1969 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1970 10 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1971 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1972 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1973 Box 18 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1974 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1975 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1976 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1977 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1978 Box 19 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1979 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1980 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1982 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1984 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1984 Box 20 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1985 Fedco Sales Reporter, 1986 Fedco Sales