The fonds consists of manuscript and research material relating to Dr. Riley's primary research interests of Alfred Döblin, Elisabeth Langgässer, Frederick Philip Grove and Thomas Mann, as well as correspondence sent and received by Riley. This fonds contains the following series: Correspondence (1904-2002), Lecture Notes (1938-1997), Research Notes (1919-1996), Writings (1903-2002), Personal & University Business (1945-2003), and Sound Recordings ([ca. 1980]-2002).