The Merrill photo collection contains 37 original photographs of Grand Rapids, Michigan circa 1887, including some duplicate images. The source of the “M-x” numbers and descriptive information on the back of the photos is unknown, but is now used as part of the description of the item. A stamp on the back of some the photos reads “C.L. Merrill & Co., Photographs and Views, Gallery, 93 Ottawa & 55 Monroe Sts., Grand Rapids, Michigan”. The original of the negatives is not known, but these are to be moved to the copy negative file, for the better protection of the image information.

The views are predominantly downtown scenes and buildings, particularly along Monroe Ave., including North Monroe (then called Canal St.) and Campau Square. A few Merrill photos can also be found in other archival collections in the Grand Rapids History & Special Collections Center, received through separate accessions.