The turn of the Twentieth century marked a time of growth and expanded services for the University of Missouri and its students. In 1899, President R. H. Jesse convened a committee of faculty to create a student bookstore. Along with Jesse and Professor John Pickard, six MU faculty founded the University Co-Operative Store. This committee proposed a store owned and operated by students with supervision of a governing board. The store was given a room in Academic Hall and each founder donated one hundred dollars to create start-up funds. (This money was eventually returned to the committee members.) The University Co-Operative Store was incorporated under the laws of the State of Missouri in 1902 for a term of fifty years.

As a business corporation, the Co-Op functioned to buy and sell for profit books, stationary, athletic goods and a variety of other merchandise. Any MU student, staff or faculty member could purchase a share of the Co-Op for $1.00. Only shareholders could make purchases at the store and receive a percentage of its annual profits. The Co-Op discontinued selling shares in 1909 and offered rebates upon presentation of receipts; a student could either redeem a receipt for 5% to 10% towards store merchandise or save all their receipts for a cash rebate of 10% to 15% at the end of the year. The Co-Op flourished for many years, serving as a source of books and supplies, as well as providing student employment. The store eventually added a mail order service popular with alumni. A 1938 advertisement captured its philosophy:

"Performing a service to the University and the students of the University that is seldom equaled and never surpassed, the Co-Op supports every student enterprise and asks only that you, in turn, support it."

By 1939, the Co-Op Board of Directors recognized that the store could no longer keep pace with the needs of the campus. In 1940, the Co-Op was dissolved and its ownership and assets reverted to the Curators of the University of Missouri. The newly renamed University Book Store operated as a self-supporting auxiliary retail unit. All bookstore profits were returned to the university for the benefit of students. The bookstore provided financial support to many campus projects, including funding Memorial Union renovations, purchasing air conditioning for a section of Ellis Library, and subsidizing the entire Student Government Association (MSA) budget for many years. While Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Elmer Ellis wrote, "The value of the University Book Store to the University extends far beyond merely keeping book prices down to students. It is administered in such a way as to assist the education program, even when that would not be the most profitable way to operate."

Changing Locations and New Services
Growth and expansion underscore the history of the University Bookstore. By 1907, the Co-Op had outgrown its single room occupancy in Academic Hall and moved to the south end of the basement beneath what would become Jesse Auditorium. In 1952, the bookstore moved to the lower level of Memorial Union next to the cafeteria. The completion of a new student commons in 1963 provided an ideal home for the University Bookstore. The bookstore has occupied several locations within the Thomas Allen Brady Commons and currently resides on the main level.

Today, the University BookStores include University Bookstore, TigerTech, UMKC Bookstore, and the UMR Bookstore. Because we are University-owned and operated, one hundred percent of our profits remain on campus. When you make a purchase at University BookStores, your dollars help support campus facilities, services and activities such as the Student Success Center, the Black Culture Center, Stankowski intramural field, Residence Hall renovations, scholarships and programming events.

Over one hundred years of service to the University of Missouri is cause for celebration. We are proud of our heritage and look forward to serving future members of the University of Missouri community.

University BookStores accept Cash, Personal Checks, Credit Cards (MC, Visa, & Discover), University Bookstore Gift Cards, and Student Charge for instore purchases. A valid photo ID is required for check transactions and valid Mizzou ID is required to student charge.