The Symbols of the Union: Civil War Envelopes from the Collection of Steven R. Shook

Opening inside the Robert Cain Gallery on November 7, 2026

Letters from the Civil War provide some of the clearest pictures of what soldiers and citizens thought of the conflict. But writers expressed their opinions on the war not only through the contents of their letters but also through the envelopes they purchased to mail them. Immediately following South Carolina’s secession from the Union in 1860, printers began publishing envelopes embellished with patriotic designs. These designs contributed to what historian Steven Boyd calls “the patriotic fervor of the early years of the war.” From images of eagles carrying Union flags to political cartoons mocking Confederate president Jefferson Davis, printers skilfully used recurring symbols to appeal to their customers’ emotions and expand their product lines. Today these miniature works of art give us a glimpse into the imagery that motivated a nation to go to war.

This exhibit draws heavily from the research of historian Steven Boyd and his book Patriotic Envelopes of the Civil War: The Iconography of Union and Confederate Covers. Special thanks to Steven R. Shook.