The Kiester family of Slippery Rock Township, Butler County Pennsylvania consisted of tavern keepers, farmers, educators, and military men. Papers, and memorabilia from four generations of this family are housed in the Slippery Rock archives. In addition to personal correspondence, there are oil leases, business receipts, pamphlets, newspapers, magazines and a number of educational records such as diplomas, school programs, report cards, etc. Perhaps of greatest interest are a series of letters from Jacob Kiester, a Civil War sergeant, to his father. An unlettered but articulate man, Jacob includes perceptive comments on the strategy of the war, President Lincoln, and the issue of slavery. The last letter in the series is postmarked Andersonville Prison, Georgia and was written two weeks prior to Jacob’s death from starvation.