The Samuel Freeman Laboratory, located just north of Beckman Laboratory and across the courtyard from Marks Laboratory, was made possible by a gift from the Samuel Freeman Charitable Trust, headed by CSHL Trustee William E. Murray. As a trustee of this foundation, Mr. Murray had established or contributed to several CSHL projects.

The Samuel Freeman Charitable Trust, aiding biomedical research, education, and arts and culture, was founded in 1981 by railroad operations specialist and philanthropist Samuel Freeman.