Kiester Family General Correspondence
Scope and Contents
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.
Dates
- 1849 - 1922
Extent
1 Folders
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Miscellaneous Letters and Certificates
License to Jesse Kiester to use described gate on his farm given by Joel Lee (Illinois), August 9th, 1866.
Application of Jesse Keister for Tavern License, Slippery Rock Township, February 14, 1857.
Ellensberg, Washington requesting Mrs. E.M. Boyles to deliver W.S. Kiester's share of the books belonging to the estate of the late Jesse Kiester, deceased, August 11th, 1890.
Normal Teachers' Certificate, Slippery Rock Normal School, for Henry B. Kiester June 29, 1905. ·
State Normal School Diploma, Slippery Rock, for Henry B. Kiester June 27, 1907.
Evans City High School Diploma of Vernetta M. Sutton May 1, 1906.
Diploma from Iron City Commercial College, Pittsburgh, Pa. for W.S. Keister January 30, 1875. Certificate for Justice of Peace for Jesse Keister, Slippery Rock. Signed by Matthew Quay, First Monday of May, 1882.
Diploma of graduation from Merchants College, Pittsburgh, Pa. J.M. Kiester, June 6, 1862. ,
Envelope with picture of Iron City College, Pittsburgh, Pa. n.d. Advertisement for good Blackboard Calligraphy, New York n.d.
Vote of 1884 for townships in Butler County, Pennsylvania.
Booklets from Commercial College of W.S. Kiester (13 pieces) 1874.
Letters
Letter from J.B. McJunkin, Attorney at Law, to Mr. --- Kiester, April 26, 1883.
Letter from Uriah Kiester, to his Uncle, May 28, 1862.
"By Submarine Telegraph. Highly important news from the Seat of War." May 22, 1874.
Repository Details
Part of the Slippery Rock University Archives and Special Collections Repository
315 Bailey Library
Slippery Rock University
Slippery Rock PA 16057
724-738-4295
rockarchives@sru.edu