Ival Arthur Merchant was born February 9, 1898 in Paonia, Colorado. He received his D.V.M. (1924) from Colorado State University, an M.S. (1928) in Veterinary Pathology and a Ph.D. (1933) in Veterinary Bacteriology from Iowa State College (University), and a Master of Public Health degree (1934) from Yale University.

Dr. Merchant began his career with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Animal Industry (1924-1925). He came to Iowa State as an Instructor (1925-1928) and was promoted to Assistant Professor (1928-1934), Associate Professor (1934-1943), Professor and Head of the Department of Veterinary Hygiene (Veterinary Microbiology and Preventative Medicine) (1943-1952), and Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine (1952-1963). After becoming Professor Emeritus in 1963, Dr. Merchant continued teaching at Iowa State University until 1967, when he moved to California.

Dr. Merchant's main areas of research included the study of paturella and corynebacteria. He authored numerous papers, manuals, and textbooks, including Veterinary Bacteriology and Virology (co-authored with R.A. Packer), which has become a textbook that is used internationally. During his career, Dr. Merchant influenced the work of many of Iowa State's veterinary faculty and students, including Drs. R.A. Packer, William P. Switzer, John Collier, and A. G. Carlson. He was also consultant for the U.S. State Department, U.S. Public Health Service, Pan American Sanitary Bureau, and the National Institutes of Health. For his excellence in teaching and research, Dr. Merchant was the recipient of several awards and honors, such as receiving the Iowa State Alumni Association's Faculty Citation (1958) and being named the 1981 Dedicatee for the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases.

Dr. Merchant belonged to various professional organizations, which included the Iowa Veterinarian Medical Association, American Board of Bacteriologists and the American Veterinarian Medical Society. He was also a member of several honor societies, such as Phi Zeta, Phi Kappa Phi, and Sigma Xi.

I. A. Merchant passed away December 16, 1985. He is interred in the Iowa State University Cemetery.

The collection contains correspondence, biographical information and memorials, and publications and addresses. The papers also include materials relating to Dr. Merchant's research on pastuerella, artificial insemination, and penicillin. The correspondence contains information on milk inspection and the quality of milk in Iowa during the late 1930s. There is also a tribute to Dr. Merchant written by his son, Jim, in 1985.

The collection is arranged in alphabetical order.