Charles Valentine Riley pioneered the field of entomology in the United States. The impact of Riley's work of more than a century ago is still being felt today, not only in the fields of entomology and agriculture, but also in other natural sciences. The Charles Valentine Riley Collection, part of the National Agricultural Library's (NAL) Special Collections, illustrates Riley's vision to enhance the success of agriculture through new scientific knowledge. The collection of papers and significant artifacts, also tells the story of Riley's love of nature, his keen ability to observe relationships in nature, and his devotion to recording his observations through drawing and writing.

The collection complements a number of other significant manuscripts and rare books in Special Collections such as the USDA History Collection, manuscripts of Townend Glover and William Saunders, and early publications by Riley and others which provide historians and researchers a broad picture of the field of entomology in the 1800s.

View the finding aid for this collection.