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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Gorilla envelope
Image: Dressed in uniform, with a belt full of weapons, the gorilla stands with a rifle in his right hand., Verse 60: A Southern Gorilla (Guerilla)., Caption: "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
Gunboats on the Mississippi River envelope
Image: Depicts three densely packed gunboats that are transporting soldiers down the Mississippi River., Verse 2631: U.S. Troops descending the Mississippi, escorted by Gunboat., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Hand envelope
Image: Shows the acronym C.S.A., underneath of which is a hand pointing toward an upside-down "U.S.A.", Verse: C.S.A. / U.S.A., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Handcuffs and shackles envelope
Image: Handcuffs and shackles., Verse 1164: Jewels found at Alexandria, by the Federal Army; consisting of chains, bracelets, and anklets., Caption: Supposed to have belonged to the "First Families" of Virginia., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Handcuffs envelope
Image: Depicts a pair of unlocked, old-fashioned handcuffs., Verse 438: Confederate Bonds., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Henry A. Wise envelope
Image: Congressman, Governor of Virginia, and Confederate Brigadier General, Henry A. Wise, is depicted with a swollen, pregnant-looking stomach, with scope to his eye. Camp tents are visible behind him., Verse 228: Brigadier General, the honorable Henry A. Wise, of Virginia, (The individual who thanked God that his constituents did not read the newspapers,) taking sight of the Northern Mudsills., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Homemade envelope with print on reverse side
Image: The print side of the paper faces the inside of the envelope, leaving the outside blank., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Homemade envelope with text
Image: Scrap paper with text was used to create this envelope. An address is handwritten in ink over the typed text., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Horse and Jeff Davis envelope
Image: Depicts a horses head one way, and Jefferson Davis's head if flipped over., Verse 1099: "Jeff Davis after the Government," "The Government after Jeff Davis", Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Illinois envelope
Image: Lady Liberty sits on a pedestal, next to an eagle perched on a shield bearing the stars and stripes. She holds a banner decorated with thirteen stars and the phrase "Illinois, Loyal to the Union." At Lady Liberty's feet is the state seal of Illinois, which depicts an eagle carrying the motto "State Sovereignty, National Union" in its beak. In the upper right hand corner is another shield adorned with the stars and stripes., Caption: Illinois / Loyal to the Union., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
I'm glad I'm not in Dixie! Hooray! Hooray!
Image: Shows a grinning, dancing African American man as the racist character Jim Crow., Verse 1012: I'm glad I'm not in Dixie! Hooray! Hooray!, Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
I'm just from Dixie's land.
Image: Racist caricature depicting a slovenly dressed African American man representative of the Jim Crow character., Verse 1013: I'm just from Dixie's land., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Indolent freedman envelope
Image: Depicts three freed slaves resting at a table, one with his legs propped lazily on the table., Verse 2535: T'will take all Massa's money - and more too., Caption: See session., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
"Innocent cause of war" envelope
Image: An African American man, sitting outdoors at a table. Food, possibly a loaf of bread, and a knife sit on the table untouched., Verse 1058: I'se De INNOCENT CAUSE ob all dis WAR TRUBBLE., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
"Innocent cause of war" envelope 2
Image: An African American man, sitting outdoors at a table. Food, possibly a loaf of bread, and a knife sit on the table untouched., Verse 2174: The innocent cause of the war., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Iowa envelope
Image: Depicts a seal superimposed onto a large Union flag. Within the seal is an eagle grasping an arrow in its beak. This image is used in Iowa's flag., Caption: Iowa., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
I'se from Harper's Ferry.
Image: Racist caricature showing an African American man smoking and dancing in celebration. Alludes to militant abolitionist John Brown's 1856 raid of Harper's Ferry to promote slave insurrections., Verse 1059: I'se from Harper's Ferry., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
I'se just "seceshed" from Ole Massa, Yah, Yah, Yah!
Image: Racist caricature showing an African American man smoking and dancing in celebration. of Alludes to the U.S. policy that declared fugitive slaves as contraband of war., Verse 1060: I'se just "seceshed" from Ole Massa, Yah, Yah, Yah!, Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
James Patton Anderson with Louisville, Ky. envelope
Image: A bust portrait of James Patton Anderson sits next to a birds-eye view of Louisville, Kentucky., Verse 706: Gen. Anderson., Verse 1277: Louisville, Ky., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Jefferson Davis abducted by Union Eagle envelope
Image: The Union Eagle grasps Jefferson Davis from the seat of his pants. Davis holds a Jolly Roger flag in his right hand. Three slaves on the plantation below stretch out their arms, as if to catch Davis if he falls., Verse 2545: Uncle Sam sends his traitor bird after Traitor Jeff., Caption: O! Lord! Let me alone. Golly, Mas'a Jeff; You's in a bad fix, sure enough., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Jefferson Davis and the showman envelope
Image: A showman stands and manipulates a "dissolving view" box. Jefferson Davis is seated and looking through the box at the fading image of the White House., Verse 1896: Showman - At the end of the Avenue you perceive a white house. Keep your eye on it and it will dissolve and fade from your view., Caption: Jeff. and the Showman., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Jefferson Davis as horse envelope
Image: Depicts Jefferson Davis's head, but when rotated ninety degress clockwise, he looks like a horse., Verse 1108: Jeff. Davis "going in." Jeff. Davis "coming out.", Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Jefferson Davis as jackass stationery
Image: This is an advertisement for stationery with the image of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, pre- and post-war. The image mocks Davis and he is seen first, going to war, in a military cap decorated with ribbons. If one turns the image upside down, Davis appears like a jackass, his face deep in a bag of oats. This stationery, according to the advertisement below the image, is identified as the "Jeff. Davis Letter Sheet." There were envelopes for sale to accompany it., Caption: Jeff Davis going to War; Jeff. returning from War., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Jefferson Davis at sea envelope
Image: Jefferson Davis, in military uniform, peers into binoculars while standing with one foot at the edge of a bowl that carries six other armed men at sea. A jolly roger flag is raised., Verse 1877: "Seven wise men of Gotham went to sea in a bowl.", Caption: Jeff's Knave-y., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Jefferson Davis bust portrait with Confederate flags envelope
Image: Two upraised Confederate flags flank a profile bust portrait of Jefferson Davis., Verse: Hon. Jefferson Davis, and Alex. Hamilton Stephens, Pres. & Vice-Pres. of the Confederate States of America; inaugurated at Richmond, Va.. February 22, 1862., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Jefferson Davis cornered envelope
Image: Jefferson Davis, depicted as a dog, is cornered by an African American man, who holds his leash. A donkey peaks his head over the fence at the scene., Verse 37: A member of Jim Francis' Philadelphia Dog Detective Guards, has Jeff in a tight place., Caption: Jeff has the feelings of a price of wails., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Jefferson Davis falling onto devils' pitchforks envelope
Image: Two side-by-side images, the left showing Jefferson Davis charging with a sword at a group of Union soldiers, who have their bayonets ready to stab him. The right image shows a tattered Davis falling onto the pitchforks of several smiling devils in a pool of fire., Verse 2416: There was a man in our town, and he was wondrous wise. He jumped into a bramble-bush, and scratched out both his eyes. Now when he saw his eyes were out, with all his might and main he jumped into another bush, and scratched them in again., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Jefferson Davis hanging from tree envelope
Image: Retribution scene depicting Jefferson Davis standing on a stool, with a rope wrapped around his neck. An African American man leaves Davis and walks with a bundle slung over his shoulder away from the scene., Verse 1185: Judas vile betrayed his master, I betrayed fair Liberty. We meet the same end of high treason, and dangle from the same high tree. Massa Davis, what a figure, you will cut upon that swing. I'd sooner be the poorest Nigger, den the whitest "Cotton King.", Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Jefferson Davis in refrigerator envelope
Image: Jefferson Davis's head sticks out of a refrigerator machine. An African American man stands nearby., Verse 2791: You had better get out dere, Massa Jeff, and go Norf, dey soon cool you or any oder man., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Jefferson Davis in refrigerator envelope 2
Image: Jefferson Davis's head sticks out of a refrigerator machine. An African American man stands nearby, pointing at Davis., Verse: Oh Massa Jeff you is a big thing on Ice., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Jefferson Davis in stocks envelope
Image: A racist caricature of a grinning African American man runs in the direction of Jeff Davis, who stands with his head and wrists locked in stocks., Verse 891: Ha! Ha! Massa Jeff takes the last of the Confederate Stocks., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Jefferson Davis is circus cage envelope
Image: Depicts "Southern Lion" J.D. - Jefferson Davis - on his hands and knees in an enclosed circus cage. A former slave pokes Jefferson Davis with a stick., Verse 1943: Southern Menagerie/Stiring him up., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Jefferson Davis photographing Washington envelope
Image: Jefferson Davis stands with a cloth over his head looking through a camera that is mounted on a tripod. He is photographing the Capitol in Washington., Verse 1129: Jeff Davis "taking" Washington., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Jefferson Davis raked over the coals envelope
Image: A grinning devil figure rakes Jefferson Davis over the coals. An African American man watches the scene from above and says "De debil claims his own"., Verse 68: "A warm reception for Jeff. Davis.", Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Jefferson Davis surprised by butterflies envelope
Image: Jeff Davis is surprised when a basket full of butterflies tips over and they swarm around him., Verse 1134: Jeff. Davis' attack on Fortress Monroe., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Jefferson Davis walking a tightrope to the Capitol envelope
Image: Jefferson Davis walks a tightrope over a tall waterfall to get to the U.S. Capitol. A soldier waits on the Capitol side, but a man (a southerner?) is about to cut the rope with an ax on the other side., Verse 2444: This modern Blondin leaves but one impression upon the mind of every calm spectator: How easily we circumvent SECESSION must now be clearly seen by this arch-traitor., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
John Bull blinded envelope
Image: John Bull, a figure personifying Great Britain, looks at "views" through a cotton bale, which resembles a goat. A tired-looking white man stands on the other side, along with a small, African American boy who holds a "Southern Views" sign. A Confederate flag rises up from the body of the goat., Verse 1171: John Bull "don't see it"., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
John Bull on fence envelope
Image: John Bull, a figure personifying Great Britain, straddles a wooden fence. He holds an evenly weighted scale. On the left side sits an African American man with his back to a soldier (possibly Jefferson Davis) who holds a Jolly Roger flag. On the right side are bales of cotton., Verse 1174: John Bull on the Fence., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
John W. Geary envelope
Image: Depicts bust portrait of John W. Geary., Verse 366: Col. Geary / Col. Geary's Twenty-eighth Regiment P.V., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
Jolly Roger flag envelope
Image: Depicts a jolly roger flag, with skull and crossbones, as Jeff Davis's flag., Verse 1110: Jeff Davis/His Marque., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector

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