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.

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West front of U.S. Capitol envelope
Image: Shows west front of U.S. Capitol building, built 1793-1829 after the designs of Benjamin Henry Latrobe and Charles Bulfinch., Verse 2619: U.S. Capitol. (West front). Washington., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
W.G. Brownlow envelope
Image: Bust portrait of William Gannaway Brownlow. The American flag waves behind him as he writes a letter. Served as Senator and Governor of Tennessee and was strongly pro-Union., Verse 1700: Parson Brownlow, Verse 1701: Parson Brownlow, Knoxville, Tenn. To Gen'l Pillow.--Your letter is received offering me a Chaplaincy in the Confederate Army. I have not yet made up my mind to go to hell, when I do, I shall travel a more direct route than by way of the Southern Confederacy. Yours Truly, W.G. Brownlow., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Why don't you take it? with Davis's response envelopes
Image: In the top image, Winfield Scott is depicted as a bulldog who offers the skinny dog, representing Jefferson Davis, a side of beef labeled "Washington." The bottom envelope is Jefferson Davis's response, depicting him as a lion, standing on a boulder that says myriads of men and millions of money. Other emaciated animals are included in the scene, along with a battlefield in the background., Verse 2752: Why don't you take it?, Verse 1159: Jeff's reply to why don't you take it., Caption: Myriads of men, 23,000,000. Millions of money, $1,000,000,000,000. Don't want it now. We want to be let alone., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Winfield Scott and soldiers panorma envelopes
Image: Union general and 1852 presidential candidate, Winfield Scott, is depicted in uniform and on horseback in the middle envelope (80b) of a set of three. Includes other soldiers surrounding him., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Winfield Scott elephant chasing Jefferson Davis pig envelope
Image: An elephant, labeled Winfield Scott, charges after a pig carrying a young, exuberant Jefferson Davis., Verse 969: I always win. Winfield Scott., Verse 1144: Jeff Davis's Last Ride upon the South., Caption: Jeff being unable to come to Washington to see the Elephant, Old Abe will take the Elephant to see Jeff., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Winfield Scott envelope
Image: Bust portrait of Winfield Scott, a Union general and an 1852 presidential candidate., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Woman carrying Confederate flag envelope
Image: Half-length portrait of a woman carrying the Confederate flag., Verse: Good for another "Bull's Run.", Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Woman holding Union flag and pointing to Onward envelope
Image: A woman wearing a red, white, and blue dress holds an upraised Union flag in her right and points to the word Onward with her left hand. Her left foot rests on a red ball., Verse 1578: Onward., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Woman holding Union flag and pointing to Victory envelope
Image: A woman wearing a red, white, and blue dress holds an upraised Union flag in her right hand, and points to the word Victory, which is spelled out with red, white and blue letters., Verse 2637: Victory., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Woman holding Union flag with shield and eagle envelope
Image: A woman wearing a red, white and blue Grecian gown holds an upraised Union flag in her right hand and a plaque in her left hand that reads: "The federal laws must be enforced". A Union shield rests beside her right foot and an eagle sits by her left foot., Verse 482: Death to traitors., Verse 2112: The federal laws must be enforced., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Woman in kitchen envelope
Image: A woman stands in a kitchen rolling dough. Containers, jars, and a knife sit on the counter nearby., Verse 1003: If I cannot fight, I can feed those who do., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Woman pointing and holding Union flag envelope
Image: A woman wears a patriotic red, white, and blue dress, holds an upraised Union flag in her right hand, and points forward with her left hand., Verse 1578: Onward., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Woman sitting with staff and Union shield envelope
Image: A woman sits on a dock with her arms wrapped around a staff. A red, white and blue Union shield sits at her feet. Ships are visible in the background., Verse 1965: Stand by the Union., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Woman sitting with Union flag, shield and eagle envelope
Image: A woman wearing a red, white and blue dress sits with an upraised Union flag in her right arm, and a Union shield in her left hand. An eagle sits nearby., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Woman sitting with Union flag, shield and pitchfork envelope
Image: Depicts the profile of a woman wearing a red, white and blue dress. She sits and holds a pitchfork in her left arm. Behind her is an upraised Union flag and a Union shield., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Woman sitting with Union shield envelope
Image: A woman sits with a red, white and blue Union shield and a spear or staff. Her dress is fashioned after the Union flag., Verse 630: For the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave o'ver the land of the free and the home of the brave., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Woman sitting with Union symbols, locomotive and ship envelope
Image: A woman sits with Union symbols, including American flags, a shield, an eagle, scales, a sword and gold. A ship is visible in the right background and a locomotive in the left background., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Woman with eagle envelope
Image: A woman, with a robe wrapped around her hips is naked from the waist up, and leans her left arm on a rock. An eagle is perched on the rock behind her., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Woman with sword and scales envelope
Image: A woman wearing robes made of red and white stripes and blue and white stars stands and holds a sword in her right hand and scales in her left. Two books are piled on the ground next to her., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Woman with sword holding Union flag envelope
Image: A woman wearing red, white, and blue Grecian robes and a military helmet holds an upraised Union flag in her right hand, and a sword in her left hand., Verse 1224: Liberty and Union, now and forever., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Woman with Union shield envelope
Image: A woman wearing a red, white and blue Grecian robe grasps a rolled document in her right hand and leans her left elbow on the Union shield in front of her., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Young North and South envelope
Image: The image to the left personifies the North, a boy working with technology or machinery, while the right image personifies the South, a boy smoking and sitting indolently on a barrel of Cognac., Verse 2793: "Young America." / North. South., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Zouave with rifle envelope
Image: A Zouave wears a red and blue uniform and stands holding a rifle. Includes address lines., Verse 2403: The Zouave Defender., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Zouave with Union flag and bayonet envelope
Image: A zouave, dressed in a red and blue uniform, holds a Union flag in his right hand and a bayonet in his left hand., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Zouave with Union flag and sword envelope
Image: A zouave holds a flag in his left hand and a sword in his right hand. Several objects lay at his feet, including a flag, a drum, and a wagon wheel., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector

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