Merrill Freeman was born in Ohio in 1844. He was a resident of Nevada for 18 years and moved to Tucson, AZ in 1880. In 1884 he was appointed Postmaster for the City of Tucson, but resigned this position in 1887 to accept the position as a cashier for the Bank of D. Henderson (this bank consolidated with the Bank of Tucson and eventually became the Consolidated National Bank). Freeman went on to establish the Santa Cruz Valley Bank. He became very notable and influential in Arizona’s financial history. He was also a member of the Arizona Board of Regents of the University of Arizona for 16 years and served as its Chancellor for 10 years. In 1911, on nomination by the governor of the state, he was given the degree of LL.D. (honorary doctorate in law), "for constant and conspicuous service to the state and university, for devotion to every detail of his high office as regent and chancellor." Merrill Freeman died in 1919.

Collection consists of newspaper clippings of articles by or about Merrill P. Freeman, a banker and member of Arizona Board of Regents who served 10 years as Chancellor.