Louis L. McAllister Photographs
Collection Overview
Louis L. McAllister photographed people and places near Burlington, Vermont for 60 years. He was born in Columbus, Nebraska on October 16, 1876, the son of Julius S. McAllister (born 1841 in Lincoln, VT) and Rosette Gould (born in Vermont in 1851)...
Show moreLouis L. McAllister photographed people and places near Burlington, Vermont for 60 years. He was born in Columbus, Nebraska on October 16, 1876, the son of Julius S. McAllister (born 1841 in Lincoln, VT) and Rosette Gould (born in Vermont in 1851). Julius McAllister worked as a photographer and dentist in Washington D.C., Bristol, Vermont and Columbus, Nebraska. Around 1895, Julius, his third wife Amy, and their children left Nebraska for the Union Soldiers’ Colony in Fitzgerald, Georgia. By 1900, Julius and Amy were divorced, and Amy and her stepson Louis were working as photographers in Thomasville, Georgia.
In 1907 Louis McAllister married Cora Shepard (born about 1872 in Vermont) in Holland, Michigan. By 1910, they were living in Queen City Park in South Burlington, Vermont, where Louis established a photography studio. The McAllisters moved to Burlington, and by 1919 they lived at 47 N. Winooski Avenue. They continued to occupy a summer cottage at Queen City Park, and were active in the Queen City Park Association, which held spiritualist camp meetings annually. McAllister conducted his photography business from home until his death in 1963.
McAllister’s “trademark” was his panorama camera which made him familiar to all sorts of groups ranging from graduating classes to state police to summer camp groups. In addition he did print 8 x 10 photos, many of which document building construction and Burlington Street Department projects, as well as group and individual portraits.
The L.L. McAllister Collection includes portraits, construction projects, buildings, businesses and events in the Burlington area covering the period ca. 1920-1960. The collection also includes photos of street, bridge, airport and sewer construction and repair, as well as group portraits of clubs, schools, etc.
Revised April, 2010
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1959 Christmas pageant photo at an elementary Catholic school taken in the classroom. Virgin Mary holds a Baby Jesus and is surrounded by kings, angels, and shepherds (with a lamb). School desks seen in front. Blackboard behind with theme garland strung across it.
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A group of men are all dressed in Colonial period costumes of the 1700s complete with wigs. They are assembled on and in front of a curtained stage perhaps part of a dramatic play production.
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- Theatricals
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The cast of a dramatic play production is assembled in a room with wooden floors, windows behind and a tin ceiling above. A hanging globe lamp hangs from the ceiling. The cast is in costume.
- Title
- Theatricals
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1952 school stage production performed at Taft School auditorium.
- Title
- Theatricals
- Date Created
- 1945
- Description
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1945 high school dramatic production photo of full cast on stage. A piano is seen on the floor in front of stage.
- Title
- Theatricals
- Description
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View from the theater balcony of a stage production with an elabotate setting. Cast members are assembled on the lush furniture in the living room set.