This collection contains papers of the interrelated Key and Wheat families of Liberty (Bedford County), Virginia. Included are four wartime letters written by brothers Joseph, Edward, and Yelverton Key, who served in Company G, 34th Virginia (aka 4th Virginia Heavy Artillery) during the American Civil War. Among these are two letters from Joseph Cephas Key. Writing from camp in Yorktown on April 21, 1861, he discusses mumps and measles in camp and describes recent fighting; on October 26, 1864, he writes from camp near Petersburg, Virginia, mentioning short rations and the exhorbitant prices of food ("apples audinary size 4 dollars per dosen, Sogrum 40 dollars per gallon, swet potatoes common sise one dollar a peace ...") and recent shelling. Yelverton P. Key writes from White House (New Kent County), Virginia, on May 29, 1863, discussing regimental movements, camp rations, and a recent regimental election. In a letter written from "the ditches near Petersburg," Virginia, on March 27, 1864, E. [Edward] W. Key mentions recent packages received, nearly being shot while in his tent, and desertions to the enemy. The collection also includes an 1853 letter from Levi Wheat of "Neetsville" [i.e., Neatsville], Adair County, [Kentucky], addressed to Zachariah Wheat & Sons, Liberty, Virginia, noting recent family illnesses and deaths, crop conditions, and the prices of livestock; and inquiring about "the prices of Negroes in your country." Also in the collection are two 1904 letters written by an unidentified person (possibly Ira Felix White) in Bedford County to "Estelle" (probably Estelle Spencer Key White). The collection also includes financial documents (bills and receipts) for Forest Wheat, Zachariah Wheat, Jane Wheat, and E. W. Key. Also included is a leaf containing two orders issued by Bedford County justices of the peace George Kerns and Thomas Sale relating to David Smith in 1812.