The excited states of the 1 (1)A' :C C-C-R- family and related anions are investigated. Previous work has shown that 1 (1)A' C3H- and CCSiH- each possess a rare valence excited state in addition to their dipole-bound excited states. A similar methodology to that employed previously shows that related anions (C3OH-, C3NC-, C4N-, C5H-, and HBCN-) also possess valence excited states. The valence states are the result of breaking the symmetry from C-infinity v to C-s. The half-filled pi or pi-type highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) is split into a' and a '' pieces. The valence excitation takes place between these two pieces. If the anion HOMO is not a half-filled pi-type orbital because of an increase in symmetry, cyclization, or both, the anion most likely does not exhibit the signs of a valence excited state even if the anion is an isomer of or isoelectronic to an anion that does possess a valence excited state. However, the C C-C-R- set is not the only classification of anions shown to possess valence excited states even though it is the most predictable grouping exhibiting this behavior found to date.