Charles Valentine Riley Collection

Collection

Identifier: MS0143

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Charles Valentine Riley Collection includes correspondence, unpublished lectures, photographs, news clippings, drawings, reprints, books, and artifacts covering the time period from 1868 to 1919. Much of the correspondence is original; however, several letters are copies of items held by other institutions. Copies are noted as such in the container list.

The nine series of materials focus on the history of entomology and the development of biological control of insects injurious to crops. In addition to professional papers and documents, the collection includes many personal articles such as family photographs, a wedding announcement, Riley's desk, clock, microscope, books, medals, and drawings, a portrait painted by Henry Ulke, known as the painter of the Presidents, and clippings about Riley's untimely death. Riley's talent and experience as a natural history illustrator is a focus of the collection as well.

Dates

Creation: 1868-1919

Conditions Governing Access

Contact Special Collections for access.

Biographical Sketch

Charles Valentine Riley (1843-1895) was a visual artist and entomologist. Born in England, Riley settled in the United States in 1850. He had grown up studying and sketching insects, and he quickly began to apply his abilities while working for Prairie Farmer, a Chicago-based agricultural journal. In 1868, Riley was recommended for and appointed to the post of entomologist for the state of Missouri. In this capacity, he not only became a distinguished entomologist, but he also revolutionized the entire field of entomology. In 1878, Riley became the second Chief Entomologist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, succeeding Townend Glover. Riley held this position over a period of 17 years, having parted with the USDA briefly from 1880 to 1881 over a procedural dispute. During the 1880s, Riley was also closely involved with the U.S. National Museum (now the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History), to which he donated his collection of over 100,000 insect specimens. He served as an assistant curator for the museum, specializing in insects. Riley worked in both capacities until his death in 1895.

Total Size of Collection

1 records_box

11 letter_document_box

2 half_letter_document_box

1 half_legal_document_box

4 boxes (1 box, 17 x 14 x 14.5; 1 box, 25 x 21 x 3; 1 box, 15 x 12 x 3; 1 box, 22 x 15 x 2)

12.75 Linear Feet (18 boxes (Total number of boxes from Access record does not agree with box subtotals))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Content Description

The Charles Valentine Riley Collection consists of letters to Riley, unpublished lectures, notes, photographs, news clippings, reports, reprints, paintings, drawings, sketch books, books, and artifacts. The collection focuses on the history of entomology and the development of biological control of insects injurious to crops, and on Riley's energetic efforts on its behalf during the latter part of the 19th century.