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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Related Archival Collection
Pages
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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Photo of a presentation of two oxygen tanks and other equipment in a container. Banner in the background reads "Ladies Auxiliary Howard Plant, Post No. 782, Burlington, Vermont, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States" Instituted June 1924.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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A group of men, women and a younger woman gathered for a portrait.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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1957 photo of a gathering of veterans at Battery Park in Burlington, Vt. Inside the iron fence (left) is a small memorial dedicated to the memory of Howard William Plant, "first Burlington boy" to die in World War I. VFW Post # 782 is named in his honor. Crowd appears to be ready for a ceremony...
Show more1957 photo of a gathering of veterans at Battery Park in Burlington, Vt. Inside the iron fence (left) is a small memorial dedicated to the memory of Howard William Plant, "first Burlington boy" to die in World War I. VFW Post # 782 is named in his honor. Crowd appears to be ready for a ceremony and speaker, who may be J. Edward Moran, mayor of Burlington, 1949-1957.
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- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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1959 photo of 14 veterans, taken at a party at the VFW hall in Burlington, Vt.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars - Booster's Club : Squirrel Club
- Description
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Ca. 1956 photo of 11 men, all members of the Squirrel Club--evidently, a boosters club within the VFW with a mission, among other things, to have fun. Most are wearing what looks like a garrison cap put on sideways, with a variety of insignia, decoration, and perhaps the cootie mascot (also on...
Show moreCa. 1956 photo of 11 men, all members of the Squirrel Club--evidently, a boosters club within the VFW with a mission, among other things, to have fun. Most are wearing what looks like a garrison cap put on sideways, with a variety of insignia, decoration, and perhaps the cootie mascot (also on neckties). The men are displaying their beverages of choice: Black Label and Schaefer beer in a can. (Beer in a can had been available since 1935--hardly a novelty item.) Location is probably the VFW hall at 69 College St., Burlington, Vt.
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- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars - Booster's Club : Squirrel Club
- Description
-
Ca. 1956 photo of 11 men, all members of the Squirrel Club--evidently, a boosters club within the VFW with a mission, among other things, to have fun. Most are wearing what looks like a garrison cap put on sideways, with a variety of insignia, decoration, and perhaps the cootie mascot (also on...
Show moreCa. 1956 photo of 11 men, all members of the Squirrel Club--evidently, a boosters club within the VFW with a mission, among other things, to have fun. Most are wearing what looks like a garrison cap put on sideways, with a variety of insignia, decoration, and perhaps the cootie mascot (also on neckties). The men are displaying their beverages of choice: Black Label and Schaefer beer in a can. (Beer in a can had been available since 1935--hardly a novelty item.) Location is probably the VFW hall at 69 College St., Burlington, Vt.
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- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars - Booster's Club : Squirrel Club
- Description
-
1952 photo of 16 men, all members of the Squirrel Club--evidently, a boosters club within the VFW with a mission, among other things, to have fun. The Squirrels "uniform" includes white trousers with astripe on the side, a decorative vest and a boat-shaped cap with a variety of insignia,...
Show more1952 photo of 16 men, all members of the Squirrel Club--evidently, a boosters club within the VFW with a mission, among other things, to have fun. The Squirrels "uniform" includes white trousers with astripe on the side, a decorative vest and a boat-shaped cap with a variety of insignia, decoration, and perhaps the cootie mascot (also on neckties). Location unknown.
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- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars - Booster's Club : Squirrel Club
- Description
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1947 or 1948 photo of ladies on a parade float (made from a flatbed truck) with sign "Queen Isabella". Veterans of Foreign Wars - Booster's Club Squirrel Club. Location outside of the First Unitarian Universalist Society church at 152 Pearl Street (head of Church Street Marketplace), Burlington,...
Show more1947 or 1948 photo of ladies on a parade float (made from a flatbed truck) with sign "Queen Isabella". Veterans of Foreign Wars - Booster's Club Squirrel Club. Location outside of the First Unitarian Universalist Society church at 152 Pearl Street (head of Church Street Marketplace), Burlington, Vt. Photo #1.
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- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars - Booster's Club : Squirrel Club
- Description
-
1947 or 1948 photo of a parade float (made from a flatbed truck) with members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars - Booster's Club Squirrel Club. Location outside of the First Unitarian Universalist Society church at 152 Pearl Street (head of Church Street Marketplace), Burlington, Vt.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars - Booster's Club : Squirrel Club
- Description
-
1947 or 1948 photo of ladies on a parade float (made from a flatbed truck) with sign "Queen Isabella". Veterans of Foreign Wars - Booster's Club Squirrel Club. Location outside of the First Unitarian Universalist Society church at 152 Pearl Street (head of Church Street Marketplace), Burlington, Vt.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars - Booster's Club : Squirrel Club
- Description
-
1952 photo of 7 men, all members of the Squirrel Club--evidently, a social organization within the VFW with perhaps a service aspect to it like many other men's clubs.. The Squirrels "uniform" includes white shoes, white trousers with a stripe on the side, a decorative vest and a boat-shaped cap...
Show more1952 photo of 7 men, all members of the Squirrel Club--evidently, a social organization within the VFW with perhaps a service aspect to it like many other men's clubs.. The Squirrels "uniform" includes white shoes, white trousers with a stripe on the side, a decorative vest and a boat-shaped cap with a variety of insignia, decoration, and perhaps the cootie mascot (also on neckties). Location unknown.
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- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars - Ladies Auxiliary
- Description
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1952 photo of a speaker addressing a group of veterans and the ladies auxiliary at the VFW hall, 69 College St., Burlington, Vt. Prominently displayed are several American flags as well as the banner of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Howard Plant Post #782. (Howard W. Plant was the first Burlington...
Show more1952 photo of a speaker addressing a group of veterans and the ladies auxiliary at the VFW hall, 69 College St., Burlington, Vt. Prominently displayed are several American flags as well as the banner of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary, Howard Plant Post #782. (Howard W. Plant was the first Burlington serviceman to die in World War I.)
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- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars - Ladies Auxiliary
- Description
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Undated photo of veterans' ceremony, perhaps on Veterans Day, at Battery Park, Burlington, Vt. The car dealership in the background now houses the Burlington Police Dept. The memorial stone and plaque--if it is the same one dedicated to Howard William Plant, first Burlington casualty of World War...
Show moreUndated photo of veterans' ceremony, perhaps on Veterans Day, at Battery Park, Burlington, Vt. The car dealership in the background now houses the Burlington Police Dept. The memorial stone and plaque--if it is the same one dedicated to Howard William Plant, first Burlington casualty of World War I--has since been moved to the southeast corner of the park, near the corner of Battery and Pearl Sts. A man playing trumpet (perhaps the same as in mcalB17F11i02), very likely "Taps," faces the memorial, which is enclosed by an iron fence, as other veterans and citizens salute or stand at attention.
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- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars - Mother's Club
- Description
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1951 photo of a large group of children, very likely attending a VFW sponsored event at a gymnasium in Burlington or Winooski. A few adults, one wearing a military uniform, and Santa Claus can be seen in the crowd.