Merton Field was born on June 2, 1871 at Lewiston, Maine.  In 1880, family moved to Apple Creek Township near Bismarck, ND.  In 1891, Mr. Field enrolled at the North Dakota Agricultural College and was a member of the first graduating class in 1895.  In 1899 he earned the first Master's Degree conferred by the College.

After receiving his Master's Degree, Field enrolled at the University of Minnesota where he studied to be a doctor and graduated in 1902.  The collection is composed of correspondence and manuscripts, which compose the main section of the papers.  The "By Many Trails Manuscript" is a typed 131 page transcript done by the Institute Staff in 1953 and includes the portions relating Mr. Field's childhood and college days.
 

Frontier and Pioneer Life