Willard L. Devereaux was a prominent farmer of Wayne County, near Clyde, New York. He also made a specialty of orchard and vineyard planting. Mr. Devereaux was also an entomologist of considerable note. His collection of bugs and insects was one of the finest in his time. He authored many articles on entomology. He was a charter member of the Entomological Society of America and was also a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Mr. Devereaux also held memberships in the Grange, Farmers Alliance, and the Clyde Farmers Exchange.
The collection contains correspondence, articles, advertisements, notes, and coleoptera lists. Correspondents include Thomas O. Blair, Samuel Edison Cassino, John Henry Comstock, Adolph Conradi, A. S. Fuller, Asa Gray, A. P. Hilton, Arthur Kretzler, G. M. Sevette, and Herman Strecker. Organizations include American Association for the Advancement of Science; American Entomological Society; American Naturalist and Naturalists' Agency; Cambridge Entomological Club; Daily Rural Life; Entomological Society of America; Galen Agricultural Society; New York State Grange; New York State Museum of Natural History; Office of the State Entomologist; United States Department of Agriculture, Division of Botany; and United States Department of Agriculture, Division of Entomology.
Willard Loomis Devereaux papers, #6745. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.