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The Baker Furniture, Inc. series contains interesting material dating chiefly from the 1940's and 1950's. This includes a notebook containing internal production reports, memos written by Merriam to the foremen of various departments and speeches given by Merriam to foremen and crew leaders. These materials reflect a concern with productivity and, increasingly, with labor costs. Especially interesting is a folder of letters and flyers representing both management and labor viewpoints during an unsuccessful 1953 CIO union drive.

The Macatawa Bay Yacht Club series reflects chiefly Merriam's appointment as Commodore in 1949. Included are the club's by-laws, and minutes and correspondence.

The Warren Sturtevant Merriam series consists of logs and diaries from three cruises on the Yacht Bel Mer taken by the Merriam's and their friends in 1952, 1953 and 1956. These are humorous, through difficult to follow due to heavy use of nicknames and sailing jargon.

Helen Bell Merriam was apparently a daughter of a wealthy Chicago family. The photograph album in her series dates from 1914-1947 and provides an interesting picture of the vacation activities enjoyed by a young woman of her class. Other materials include a brief correspondence with a distant relative concerning the genealogy of the Merriam family, and a biographical sketch.

The Charles Wolcott Merriam series contains one printed sermon delivered by the Reverend Merriam in 1948 at the Park Congregational Church. There are also obituary clippings and typed letters containing his plans for his own memorial service and a list of bequests.

The Julia Sturtevant Merriam series consists of a privately printed memorial volume, What Is Faith?, put together by her family and friends upon her death in 1941.

The Park Congregational Church series consists of church bulletins and clippings documenting the involvement of the Merriam's in various church activities.