Civil War patriotic envelopes
Collection Description
The patriotic envelope was a war-time propaganda phenomenon produced by both the North and the South during the Civil War. This collection of primarily Union patriotic envelopes depicts battles, flags, eagles, political satire, and caricatures of Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Gen. McClellan, Col. Elmore Ellsworth, and other political heroes. Envelopes often have mottos and verses. They were first made for the mails and then as souvenirs.
Dates
- Creation: ca. 1861-1890
Access to Materials
Collection is open for research use. Materials may be accessed by request at Special Collections and University Archives in Seidman House. Materials do not circulate.
Publication Rights
For information on copyright or permissions for this collection, contact Grand Valley State University Special Collections.
Extent
0.25 Linear feet (approximately 161 envelopes in 1 box)
Language of Materials
English
Source of Acquisition
Donated by Harvey E. Lemmen
Alternative Format
Digital reproductions of the envelopes are available electronically in our Digital Collection.
Subject
- Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 (Person)
- Jefferson, Davis (Person)
- Scott, Winfield (Person)
- Hamlin, Hannibal (Person)
- Johnson, Andrew (Person)
- Washington, George (Person)
- Welles, Gideon (Person)
- McClellan, George Brinton (Person)
- Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland) (Person)
- Smith, Caleb B. (Caleb Blood) (Person)
Genre / Form
Geographic
Topical
- Title
- Civil War patriotic envelopes, RHC-49
- Author
- Special Collections & University Archives
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the Grand Valley State University Special Collections and University Archives Repository
Seidman House
1 Campus Drive
Allendale MI 49401 United States
616-331-8726
collections@gvsu.edu
