In return for four to five hours of work and two dollars each week, each of the 18 founding members received room, board, barber, canning, and laundry service.

The Michigan Wolverine Eating Co-op would later play a vital role in the expansion of the cooperative movement on campus.

By serving as a common ground for members of the Socialist Club and the Student Christian Association, which owned the building at the time, the Wolverine Eating Co-op introduced the idea of housing cooperatives to many within the religious community.

This organization later became known as the Inter-Cooperative Council and, in 1939, submitted a draft of its first constitution to be adopted and ratified by each of the cooperatives on campus.

This expansion reached its peak prior to the outbreak of World War II when the ICC consisted of 12 independent rooming and boarding houses.

[1] Under his leadership, the Inter-Cooperative Council began a steady period of expansion from 1953 to 1978, during which several more houses were purchased and the North Campus Co-ops were constructed.

In accordance with the second Rochdale principle, democratic member control, ultimate authority in the organization lies with the Board of Directors.

The ICC currently owns 19 houses and 1 office around the Central and North Campuses of the University of Michigan.

After being remodeled in 2007, the co-op adopted its current name and offered housing tailored for graduate students instead of operating primarily for undergraduates.

Karl D. Gregory Cooperative House at 1617 Washtenaw was originally built in 1909 for the Tau Gamma Nu fraternity and was purchased by the ICC in 1995.

After being successful under appointments by Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Ford, Carter, and Reagan, he generously donated $20,000 to the ICC.

Compared to other ICC co-ops, King functions closer to an apartment complex with six separate units, having less common shared space.

The theme of Johnson-Rivera is to be a safe space that centers the needs and experiences of Queer Trans People of Color (QTPOC).

The house is named after Luther Buchele, the ICC's first full time staff member, who served in various positions, including general manager, throughout the organization for 34 years.

[citation needed] Robert Owen Cooperative House, which deems their theme as "theme-less" was founded in 1938 and moved to the current location of 1017 Oakland Ave in 1944.

Vail Cooperative houses 23 residents and cooks vegetarian and vegan meals while maintaining a theme of sustainability.

Several ICC houses have closed, sold, or been lost to fire since the creation of the Inter-Cooperative Council, including: