The McAllister Collection contains about 7,000 Civil War envelopes collected by John A. McAllister. Issued by stationers, printers, and publishers, the envelopes contain patriotic designs and slogans to promote support for the war. Predominately published in the Northern states between 1861 and 1862, a small number of envelopes with anti-Union designs printed in the Confederate states circulated as well. The designs depict portraits of historic and prominent military figures, military scenes, state seals, cartoons, Liberty, American eagles, flags, and other military and patriotic emblems.

Pages

Slaves with hoes envelope
Image: Shows conversation about the war between two African American slaves, who are depicted with hoes., Verse 1814: Sam? Whar Massa Jeffs sogers dis morning? Why dey lost dey Ferry & now dey has gone to Win-chess-ter., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Small eagle envelope
Image: Small eagle facing left., Verse: General Scott to the Union volunteer., Caption: Boy, may the eagle's course may ever be thine; Onward, and upward, and true to the line., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Smoking soldier envelope
Image: A soldier, attired in his uniform, smokes a pipe and has a large drum strapped to his back. Envelope includes address fields., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Soldier embracing crying woman envelope
Image: A uniformed soldier has his right arm around a woman who is crying into a handkerchief, and holds a bayonet in his left hand., Verse 907: "The Girl I Left Behind Me.", Caption: "He turn'd and left the spot--O! do not deem him weak--For dauntless was the soldier's heart, though tears were on his cheek; Go, watch the foremost ranks in danger's dark career, Be sure the hand most daring there has wiped away a tear.", Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Soldier with bayonets envelope
Image: A soldiers stands near a cannon with a bayonet held upright in the crook of his left arm. Three other bayonets stand nearby. A large Union flag flies from the top of a tent behind the soldier., Verse 1951: Spirit of "'76.", Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Soldier with Union flag and sword envelope
Image: A soldier grips the Union flag in his left hand, and has a sword upraised in his right hand., Verse 626: For right is right, since God is God, and right the day must win, to doubt would be disloyalty, to falter, would be sin., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Soldiers around campfire envelope
Image: Five soldiers sit around a campfire, near a large tent., Verse 2710: "We're the Boys that fear no Noise.", Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Soldier's dream envelope
Image: A soldier stands guard in the distance, as another soldier sleeps around a campfire in the foreground. In the upper right hand corner of the envelope is an image that depicts the sleeping soldier's dream of the enemy attacking his wife and children near their home., Verse 2287: The Soldier's Dream of Home., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Soldiers' letter and officers' message blanks envelope
Image: Two minute figures of soldiers in uniform are in the upper left hand corner., Caption: The Soldiers' Letter, and Officers' Message Blanks. Designed for use in the field or camp. The Card can be held in the hand while Writing. Expressly adapted for the pencil. Two cards will contain as much as a sheet of paper.Three Cards and an Envelope require but one Stamp., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Sons of Erin envelope
Image: Depicts three bust portraits of Irish Union soldiers, including Michael Corcoran, James Mulligan, and Thomas Meagher. The portraits are separated by harps and shamrocks., Verse 348: Col. Corcoran / Col. Mulligan / Col. Meagher., Caption: Sons of Erin., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
"Southern chilvalry" envelope
Image: An African American boy sits on the shoulders of an equestrian statue of George Washington. A Confederate flag flies in the background. Most likely the Washington Equestrian Monument, which was unveiled in 1858 in Richmond, Virginia, Verse 1935: Southern chivalry. Richmond, Va., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Southern clergyman and the devil envelope
Image: A clergyman stands at a lectern and looks down at the bible resting on top. A devil figure stands behind the clergyman and points to scripture he wants the clergyman to read., Verse 110: An eminent southern clergyman, during an eloquent discourse, is wonderfully assisted in finding scriptural authority for Secession and Treason, and the divine ordination of Slavery., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Southerner under palmetto tree envelope
Image: A frowning man sits under a palmetto looking down at the hat in his hands., Verse 1447: 'Neath a ragged Palmetto, a Southerner sat a twisting the band of his Panama hat, And trying to lighten his mind of a load, by humming the words of the following ode, "Oh! for a nigger, and oh! for a whip; Oh! for a cocktail, and oh! for a nip; Oh! for a shot at Old Greeley and Beecher; Oh! for a crack at a Yankee school-teacher; Oh! for a captain, and oh! for a ship; Oh! for a cargo of niggers each trip," and so he kept oh-ing for all he had not. Not contented with owing for all that he'd got., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
"Taking an observation" envelope
Image: A white soldier, with a scope up to his eye, observes a scene in the distance while resting on the broad shoulders of an African American man., Verse 2016: Taking an observation from a Dark Point., Caption: Negro-- Dis Child is a real Union niggar, and no mistake., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Tax man envelope
Image: A taxman holds out a quill in his left hand, and holds an ink bottle in his right. Tax forms are tucked under his right arm. He stands in front of a cotton bale. A white plantation owner gives up his last slave, a young African American boy., Verse 1843: Secession devouring its children. Taxman--Your taxes for King Davis are due again. Planter--Well take my last Slave--you have robbed me of all the rest., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Texas envelope
Image: Depicts a grinning, winged devil holding the Confederate flag in his right hand, and in his left hand a shield bearing the state seal of Texas, consisting of a five-sided star surrounded by olive and live-oak branches., Caption: Texas / The Rebel States., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Thirteen colonies' state seals envelope
Image: The state seals of the original thirteen colonies form a closed oval shape that is connected by the Union flag. At the top of the oval are two Union flags that flank a shield and an eagle., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
To an Envelope poem cover envelope
Image: A foliage border lines the outside of the envelope., Verse 2475: To an Envelope. Speed gentle missive on thy way to kindred hearts--make no delay, And if thy tidings glad the heart of those who bid thee thus depart, Then let thy well directed face, Sure passport be to destined place. Perhaps of Love you bear the tale, And hearts would grieve if you should fail, If so proceed with greatest care, to those whose happiness you bear. But in this world of care and pain, You'll often bear a sadder strain, And often change the watcher's fears, into the mourner's griefs and tears. If such must be the words you speak, then let thy message gently break, And point to worlds where woe would cease, and care and strife shall end in peace. Be LOYAL everywhere you go, From Canada to Mexico; care not to whom you may belong. BUT GO TO THE UNION RIGHT OR WRONG! 1865, Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
To Lafayette. We are grateful.
Image: Full length portrait of Marquis de Lafayette standing in front of the American and French flags. He holds his hat and walking stick in his right hand., Verse 2482: To Lafayette, we are grateful., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
"Treason" balloon envelope
Image: An African American man, dressed in tattered garment, blows into a balloon labeled "Treason"., Verse 2684: "We is de innocent root ob dis yere trubble, Mass' Jeff, but its gwine to take all us poor, niggas' breff away to keep de wind in it.", Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Two snakes and a skeleton on a whiskey barrel envelope
Image: A skeleton sits on top of a whiskey barrel holding a scythe in his right hand and a goblet in his left hand. Two snakes are wrapped around the barrel. A skull and crossbones sit on the floor in front of the barrel., Verse 2178: "The key to the Southern Rebellion.", Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Two Union flags flanking Union industry symbols envelope
Image: Two Union flags, one on the left side of the envelope, and the other on the right, face inward toward an image depicting a ship anchor, mallets, a sheaf of wheat, and a wheel barrel., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Two Union flags with shield envelope
Image: Two Union flags criss-cross behind a Union shield., Verse 548: E. Pluribus Unum., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Two women with Union flag envelope
Image: A woman dressed in red, white and blue clothing holds an upraised Union flag in her left hand, and rests her right hand on a shield. A Native American woman, wearing a brown dress and a headband with feathers, kneels and looks up at the other woman., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Two women with young girl looking into U.S.A. mirror envelope
Image: Two women, dressed in full skirts and bonnets, stand with a young girl who is also fashionably dressed. U.S.A. appears in a mirror or frame in front of them., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Uncle Sam collecting his debts envelope
Image: Depicts two scenes separated by the "Mason & Dixon's line". On the left side, Uncle Sam tries to collect money from a southern slave owner, who probably tried to use depriciated paper dollars that Uncle Sam holds in his hand. A slave peaks his head out from the doorway of the office and watches the scene. On the right side, a grinning Uncle Sam has his feet propped up on barrels of goods in a room full of agricultural produce, which by 1863 was taxable., Verse 2658: "Wait 'till the war is over.", Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Union and Confederate old men envelope
Image: In both images, two older men, probably representing the Union and the Confederacy, face each other. The man on the left holds a Confederate flag in the bottom cartoon. Possibly mocking the self-importance of the southerners., Verse 511: "Don't see it", Verse 201: Big thing! Don't see it., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Union flag facing right envelope
Image: Depicts the Union flag waving from its pole. The liberty cap is atop the pole. Includes address lines., Verse: Stand by the flag., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Union flag facing right with other Union symbols envelope
Image: This image appears to be hand drawn and painted in watercolor. The Stars & Stripes flies from a pole erected in the midst of a shield (also decorated with the Stars and Stripes), a wheeled cannon with a pile of cannon balls, a drum, and a fasces which is a hatchet held in a bundle of rods., Verse: Stand by the flag., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
The Union forever and indolent freedman envelope
Image: Two images are depicted, the top a symbol of the Union in the form of two hands shaking with stars, stripes, and The Constitution in the background. Also portrays three freed slaves lounging at a table, one with his legs propped lazily on top., Verse 2353: The Union Forever., Verse 2535: T'will take all Mass's money - and more too., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Union man fishing in Secession pond envelope
Image: A man dressed in blue clothes and a top hat is fishing in "Secession pond" with a fishing rod that has an American flag attached to it. He uses a cannon as bait to attract fish, which represent the Confederate states. His basket is loaded with fish and labeled "Union". The "Secession" snake is out of breath and lays on a tattered Confederate flag on the ground nearby., Verse 2561: Union!, Caption: That's the bait!, Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Union mottoes. [graphic].
Union mottoes. [graphic].
Created postfreeze., Originally part of a McAllister scrapbook of Civil War miscellanies., Uncut sheets, including a half-sheet, of 24 letter and envelope labels containing patriotic slogans in support of the Union. Mottoes exalt death for one's country, the preservation of the union, the constitution, and the American flag as well as predictions of death and doom for traitors. Small number of labels also contain illustrations, including flags, a snake, and a gallows.
Union pill envelope
Image: Humanized "Confederated" bottles and "secession pills" represent the remedies offered by Jefferson Davis. They run away as the Union pill (cannonball?) takes effect., Verse 2375: The "Union" Pill in operation, working out the quack nostrums of Doctor Davis & Co., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Union shield with Liberty cap envelope
Image: On the left hand side of the envelope is a shield with the Stars and Stripes on it as well as Liberty's cap. "Liberty or Death" is printed on a "ribbon" above it. An arrow goes through a "secession" snake beneath the shield. On the right hand side of the envelope are instructions for inserting the envelopes., Caption: John M. Whittemeore & Co., Stationers, No. 114 Washington Street, Boston, 1861., Caption: Haines' Envelope Holder, patent applied for. For holding and preserving illustrated envelopes. Designed by R.P. Haines, Boston., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Union shield with Liberty cap envelope 2
Image: On the left hand side of the envelope is a shield with the Stars and Stripes on it as well as Liberty's cap. "Liberty or Death" is printed on a "ribbon" above it. An arrow goes through a "secession" snake beneath the shield., Verse 1232: Liberty or Death., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
United States Signal Corps envelope
Image: Depicts the symbol of the Signal Corps, a military branch that developed and tested communication equipment, and was founded in 1860 by United States Army Major Albert J. Myer. The symbol uses a torch in the center of two crossed flags., Verse 2601: United States Signal Corps, Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Upside-down Confederate flag envelope
Image: Depicts an upside-down Confederate flag., Verse 1389: May emblems of traitors, ever scurvy, be forever topsy-turvy., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Victory Sic Semper Tyrannis envelope
Image: In the upper left hand corner, printed in lavender, is a circle with which stands Victory over a defeated king. The motto is "Sic Semper Tyrannis" or "So Be It Ever To Tyrants., Verse: So be it ever to tyrants., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Virginia in 1776 and 1861 envelope
Image: Depicts two scenes, one on top of the other. The top scene equates Virginia in 1776 to obedient children gathered and listening attentively to their mother. The bottom image depicts Virginia in 1861 as disobedient and morally corrupt, with children smoking, gambling, stealing, and waving the Confederate flag without the supervision of their drunk mother., Verse 2648: Virginia in 1776 / Virginia in 1861., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Virginia polling station envelope
Image: A man holding a Union ticket at a polling station is intimidated to vote "Yes" in favor of Secession because of armed men working the booth., Verse 955: How Virginia was voted out of the union!!!, Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector

Pages