Stewart Cooperative was founded in 1986 by a group of nine amazing young women that had been living in the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) Girls House. The house was going to be torn down so these ladies approached the Purdue Cooperative Housing Association (PCHA) and asked permission to open a new women’s Christian cooperative house. With an empty cooperative house available at 131 Pierce Street, the women of Stewart were granted their request and began the process of getting the house ready. The Co-op system remodeled the former Sherman House with new walls, paint, carpet and fire doors so the house was up to code by the end of 1985. The girls were able to move in to the new Stewart Cooperative for the spring semester of 1986.

In 1999, PCHA approached the cooperative houses and informed them that they would be relinquishing responsibility for the houses. PCHA would still exist to oversee Rush and other events, but would no longer run the day to day operations of the houses. They asked each house to create a Board of Directors to whom they would hand over the deed to the house. The founding Board had their first meeting in June of 1999, and Stewart Cooperative Association was born. In May of 2000, Stewart Cooperative began operating as an independent entity.

The purpose and foundation of Stewart Cooperative is to provide a wholesome environment for young Christian women attending Purdue University. Stewart Cooperative Association Board of Directors is charged with providing general guidance on the organization, governance, and operation of the corporation to ensure that Stewart Cooperative continues to thrive on Purdue’s campus.