This collection is primarily Edmund Freeman’s personal papers relating to the University of Montana and his many writing projects, along with a comprehensive group of personal journals. Intellectual life of mid-century Montana is well represented through Freeman’s correspondence, articles, educational interests, journal entries, and activities with the American Federation of Teachers. Newspaper clippings concerning various topics in his research files indicate the kinds of issues he wrote about as well as the many drafts of articles and letters included in the collection. There are typed and handwritten notes on assorted topics; they are often article or book fragments, quotes, Freeman’s own thoughts, or any combination of the three. Aside from issues relating directly to the University and its students, he placed particular importance on civil rights and war research. He kept notebooks on many of his research topics, particularly on major figures in British literature and University of Montana history. Freeman retained papers and essays from others that he considered useful for his research; many were student papers, but he also kept papers by his colleagues and friends. He found special interest in American activities in Vietnam in the 1960s and 1970s and the resulting student unrest at the University of Montana and universities around the country. He collected numerous articles and essays on the war and student protests. A staunch defender of student and employee rights, Freeman used letters to the editor in the student newspaper as a forum for discussing free speech and civil liberties. He was particularly active during perceived acts of censorship by the George Finlay Simmons administration in the late 1930s, which involved the firing of librarian Philip Keeney who would appeal to the American Federation of Teachers for assistance.

There is a great deal of ephemera regarding the English Department and its operation. Freeman maintained correspondence with many notable figures in early University of Montana history including H.G. Merriam, Earnest Melby, Leslie Fiedler, and Mike Mansfield. Freeman’s intention of writing “The Book,” a history of the early years of Montana State University and in many ways his autobiography, is well represented in his research files. He kept specific files and took notes on different people and incidents that were important to the history of the University and kept materials from his years of teaching to aid in his research. Upon the death of his friend, retired botany professor Joseph “Smoky Joe” Kramer, Freeman received one of Kramer’s binders of writings and notes which he retained with his own files. Kramer was a professor at the University of Montana-Missoula from 1930 until his retirement in 1960.

Freeman was also working on a project with several others to write a history of the American Federation of Teachers, a group with which he was very involved when it established a chapter at the University in 1937. There are several folders of materials strictly devoted to his research and activity for the organization. Freeman was an accomplished public speaker and his personal papers reflect the numerous subjects on which he lectured. He was often called upon to speak on political ideologies and social issues. There is also a single box of personal artifacts and a small collection of personal photographs.