Illustrated Civil War Envelope Collection

Descriptive Summary

Title
Illustrated Civil War Envelope Collection
Date
1850s-1860s
Extent
0.23 Cubic feet
Subjects
Envelopes (Stationery)
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged by subject.
Finding Aid Author
Finding aid prepared by Megan Mummey
Preferred Citation
2011MS164: [identification of item], Illustrated Civil War Envelope Collection, 1850s-1860s, University of Kentucky Special Collections.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Illustrated, patriotic envelopes started to appear between 1855 and 1856 as more conflict between the Northern and Southern states developed. At first these envelopes depicted general patriotic themes such as flags but later included portraits of generals and caricatures of politicians. In the 1850s people used the envelopes for mail, but by 1861 the envelopes were considered collector's items. Stationery makers continued their production through the Civil War.
Hatcher, James Brush. Flashback: The Patriotic Envelope in Civil War Days. Collectors Weekly. Market Street Media LLC. 16 April 2009. Web. 20 December 2011.
Scope and Content
The Illustrated Civil War Envelope Collection consists of illustrated or stamped envelopes depicting patriotic themes, portraits of Civil War heroes, and caricatures of politicians. The collection is organized into two series: Union envelopes and Individual States envelopes. The Union envelopes depict United States patriotic themes such as flags and lady liberty. Additionally, the series includes envelopes with caricatures of Jefferson Davis and Secession. The Individual States envelopes are printed to show individual Union or Confederate States, including Alabama, Minnesota, Oregon, and Maine.

Restrictions on Access and Use

Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Access note Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Use Restrictions
The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections.

Contents of the Collection

Union,, 1850s-1860s

The Union series, comprising the bulk of the collection, includes envelopes depicting United States patriotic themes such as flags and lady liberty. Additionally, the series contains envelopes with caricatures of Jefferson Davis and Secession.

Patiotic,, 1850s-1860s

  • Box 1, Folder 1-3
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Jefferson Davis/Secession caricatures,, 1860s

  • Box 1, Folder 4
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Lady Liberty,, 1850s-1860s

  • Box 1, Folder 5
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The flag,, 1850s-1860s

  • Box 1, Folder 6
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Individual States,, 1860s

  • Box 1, folder 7
The Individual States series contains envelopes printed to show individual Union or Confederate States, including Alabama, Minnesota, Oregon, and Maine.

Kentucky

  • Box 1, Folder 8
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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open by appointment only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Materials must be requested at least 5 days before your appointment.

Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.

Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.

Requests

No items have been requested.



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You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.

If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.