The Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) was established in 1866 as an organization for honorably discharged Union veterans of the United States Civil War. The G.A.R. sought to promote comradeship among the veterans; to preserve the memory of fallen soldiers; to give aid to widows, orphans, and handicapped veterans; and to fight for pension increases and other benefits. The G.A.R. was organized into departments by state, with local posts within each department.

The United States Christian Commission (U.S.C.C.) was founded in 1861 by the Y.M.C.A. to provide spiritual support and relief services for soldiers during the Civil War. Esther E. Allen was commissioned as a manager in the Special Diet-Kitchen Service of the U.S.C.C. and was discharged from service on 1 December 1864. In 1880, she was named an honorary comrade of the Joe Hooker Post, no. 21, G.A.R. Department of Iowa in recognition of her Civil War service with the U.S.C.C. No additional information about Mrs. Allen is known.

This collection contains an 1880 certificate naming Mrs. Esther E. Allen as an honorary comrade of the Joe Hooker Post, no. 21, G.A.R. Department of Iowa.