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
Show less
Related Archival Collection
Pages
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
-
Another view of Veterans Day (1957) at Battery Park, Burlington, Vt. Veterans, one soldier in uniform, and children from the neighborhood are present. The speaker at the microphone is as yet unidentified but could easily be a veteran of World War I (see also mcalB21F12i01-mcalB21F12i02).
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
-
1945 photo of several men--local dignitaries, servicemen, clergy, and veterans--gathered in downtown Burlington, Vt. (First Baptist Church and auto dealer Charles P. Smith Jr. are in background), very likely for the Armistice (now Veterans) Day parade, the first after the end of World War II. A...
Show more1945 photo of several men--local dignitaries, servicemen, clergy, and veterans--gathered in downtown Burlington, Vt. (First Baptist Church and auto dealer Charles P. Smith Jr. are in background), very likely for the Armistice (now Veterans) Day parade, the first after the end of World War II. A few women and children can be seen in the background. On the far left, in light fedora and overcoat, is Arthur W. Dow, state editor of the Burlington Free Press, a determined impresario of the performing arts who brought legendary musicians to Burlington, and editor of a column "Vermonters Serving under the U.S. Flag." Tragically, Dow suffered a heart attack and died just two weeks after this photo was taken.
Show less
- Title
- War Bond Campaign
- Description
-
1945 photo of a store window display with portraits of war leaders, some of whom had appeared on the cover of Time magazine. Most prominent is a photo of FDR, whose portrait is placed between 2 war bonds. Below is a poster showing a battle-hardened GI saying "Next!" with an image of Japan and the...
Show more1945 photo of a store window display with portraits of war leaders, some of whom had appeared on the cover of Time magazine. Most prominent is a photo of FDR, whose portrait is placed between 2 war bonds. Below is a poster showing a battle-hardened GI saying "Next!" with an image of Japan and the Japanese flag at the bottom of the poster. Display was probably made after Victory in Europe Day (8 May 1945), thereby suggesting that Japan will be the site of the next American victory. The usual exhortation to "buy more bonds" is at the very bottom.
Show less
- Title
- Weddings
- Description
-
1945 bride and groom with members of their wedding party stand in the living room of a home. Bride wears a gown; groom a military uniform. Photo 3. See also mcalB22F06i05
- Title
- Weddings
- Description
-
1945 portrait of a wartime bride and groom standing in the corner of a living room of a home. She wears a gown and corsage. He is in military uniform. They wear their eye glasses in this image. Photo 1. See also mcalB22F06i07
- Title
- Weddings
- Description
-
A soldier and his bride along with members of wedding party pose outside a home for a wedding day portrait. Dated. 1945. See also mcalB22F06i08 for same couple.
- Title
- Weddings
- Description
-
1945 photo of a military man and three women. One appears to be a bride with bouquet. The man wears a military uniform. Others may be family.
- Title
- Weddings
- Description
-
1945 - A soldier bridegroom and his wartime bride stand outside in front of a house. Number 223 on the house. Location unknown.
- Title
- Weddings
- Description
-
1945 portrait of a bride, groom and members of their wedding party as they stand in an archway of a home with vases of floors on the floor. Bride wears a wedding gown; the groom a military uniform.
- Title
- Weddings
- Description
-
A soldier and his bride pose with wedding party inside a home for a wedding day portrait. Dated. 1945. See also mcalB22F06i08, mcalB22F06i09.
- Title
- Weddings
- Description
-
A soldier and his wartime bride pose inside a home near an archway for a wedding portrait. See also mcalB22F06i08, mcalB22F06i09.
- Title
- Weddings
- Description
-
A newly wed couple cut their wedding cake set out on a dining table in a home. Wedding guests and family gather around to watch. Crepe paper streamers decorated the room. See same bride and groom in mcalB22F06i05
- Title
- Weddings
- Description
-
A soldier and his bride pose outside a home for a wedding day portrait. Dated. 1945.
- Title
- Weddings
- Description
-
1937 Military officers in dress uniforms with riding crops pose for a group portrait outside a building with massive stone pillars. Part of the wedding party? Photo #3.
- Title
- Weddings
- Description
-
1945 family portrait photo with older man and woman (parents?) with their grown children? Two of the men in military uniform.
- Title
- Weddings
- Description
-
1945 photo of young couple in the backyard of McAllister's Burlington home, 47 No. Winooski Ave. She wears corsage and he is in military uniform (staff sargeant?).
- Title
- Weddings
- Description
-
1945 - Soldier bridegroom and his wartime bride stand outside in front of a house with an older man and woman (parents?) Image slightly blurry. Number 223 on the house. Location unknown.
- Title
- Weddings
- Description
-
1945 portrait of a wartime bride and groom standing in the corner of a living room of a home. She wears a wedding gown and corsage. He is in military uniform. They do not wear their eye glasses in this image. Photo 2. See also mcalB22F06i05
- Title
- Weddings
- Description
-
A soldier and a woman (bride and groom?) stand in the archway of a home and pose for a portrait. Dated 1945.
- Title
- Winooski and Burlington Mills (from Pontoon Bridge)
- Description
-
May 5, 1928. Seen here are men of Company D, 1st U.S. Engineers, 2nd Corps standing on the pontoon bridge that spanned the river between Burlington and Winooski. Behind is the old mill in Winooski that was a branch of the American Woolen Company.