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
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1938-1940 photograph of the north entrance to Battery Park. The old two story bandstand can be seen in the distance. Also note clearer image of the traffic and direction marker to the right.
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1938-1940 photograph of the south entrance to Battery Park (after completion of WPA [Work Projects Administration] project?) Note new light poles, widened road and the completed parapet wall.
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Photograph of Battery Park dated July 11, 1938 looking north toward the look-off. Note completed parapet wall and new light poles. Probably Work Projects Administration project.
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1938-1940 photograph of the south entrance to Battery Park at the intersection of Battery Street(left), Park Street (center right) and Pearl Street (lower right). The fountain to the right was later moved and now is located on the Battery Street walkway.
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Photograph of Battery Park dated May 26, 1938 showing the resurfacing of the road underway. Also note that the construction of the parapet wall has begun.
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1938-1940 photograph of Battery Park showing crews working on the resurfacing of park walkways. The emptied fountain can be seen in the foreground and the bandstand can be seen to the right.
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Photograph of Battery Park dated June 3, 1938. This view shows the construction of the stone masonry parapet wall with the reinforced concrete caps.The completed portion of the wall can be seen in the distance, as well as one of the new light poles.
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- Description
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Photograph dated June 3, 1938, Original caption reads: Battery Park - WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project No. 65-12-344 This view shows the construction of the stone masonry parapet wall with the reinforced concrete caps. Note the first concrete cap being polished after removing the forms...
Show morePhotograph dated June 3, 1938, Original caption reads: Battery Park - WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project No. 65-12-344 This view shows the construction of the stone masonry parapet wall with the reinforced concrete caps. Note the first concrete cap being polished after removing the forms also the reinforced materials in the right foreground in reinforcing the caps also the special forms used in pouring the concrete caps.
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- Description
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- Description
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1938-1940 photograph of a Burlington Street Dept. work crew resurfacing lower Battery Street.
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- Description
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ALLIS-CHALMERS, MODEL 1B TRACTOR WITH 16 HP ENGINE EQUIPPED WITH A BAKER "V" TYPE SIDEWALK SNOW PLOW NO. 281420-223V-107. This view shows the No.1 Tractor plow unit plowing snow in Battery Park. Notice the depth of the snowfall which is approximately eight inches. This equipment did not...
Show moreALLIS-CHALMERS, MODEL 1B TRACTOR WITH 16 HP ENGINE EQUIPPED WITH A BAKER "V" TYPE SIDEWALK SNOW PLOW NO. 281420-223V-107. This view shows the No.1 Tractor plow unit plowing snow in Battery Park. Notice the depth of the snowfall which is approximately eight inches. This equipment did not experience any difficulty in plowing this depth, although as you will note in the picture the snow had become frozen and difficult to plow with ordinary horse-drawn plows. This unit removed the snow from three routes formerly requiring the services of three horse-drawn units, the time required being approximately five to six hours depending upon the weather conditions, the gas consumption being approximately four to five gallons per trip. The total distance covered by the entire trip is approximately twenty miles. The specifications of this unit can be found on the back of the original photograph. 1938-1940
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- Description
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1938-1940 photograph of Battery Park. Original caption reads: WPA (Work Projects Administration) 65-12-344 View of the asphalt plant mix binder. Coarse on sidewalk and concrete base for parapet wall in Battery Park. Note excavation for concrete integral curb and gutter at right.
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1938-1940 photograph of the south entrance to Battery Park with WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project sign. Note the old light poles and that southern portion of the parapet wall has not yet been built.
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- Description
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1938-1940 photograph (may be summer 1938) of the north entrance to Battery Park at the completion of the WPA (Work Projects Administration) project.
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- Description
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1938-1940 photograph of Battery park prior to the start of the WPA (Work Projects Administration) project, looking south toward the observation platform. Note the piles of construction sand in road, the old light poles and the lack of the parapet wall along the walkway.
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- Description
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1938-1940 photograph of the eastern edge of Battery Park looking south from the intersection of Sherman Street and Park Street
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- Description
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May 26, 1938. Original caption reads: Battery Park - WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project No. 65-12-344 This view shows the new pavement under construction. Note the new integral concrete curbs and gutters which were constructed during sub-zero weather in the month of January; also the...
Show moreMay 26, 1938. Original caption reads: Battery Park - WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project No. 65-12-344 This view shows the new pavement under construction. Note the new integral concrete curbs and gutters which were constructed during sub-zero weather in the month of January; also the asphalt penetration base constructed over a heavy telford stone base on which a hot mix stone-filled-sheet asphalt wearing course is being constructed.
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1938 - 1940 photograph of Battery Park. Original caption reads: Battery Park - WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project No. 65-12-344 This view shows the 10' asphalt sidewalk after the base had been placed and rolled just prior to placing the finish coat; also the concrete footing to receive...
Show more1938 - 1940 photograph of Battery Park. Original caption reads: Battery Park - WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project No. 65-12-344 This view shows the 10' asphalt sidewalk after the base had been placed and rolled just prior to placing the finish coat; also the concrete footing to receive the stone masonry parapet wall. Note the old system of street light poles and the old pavement to the right. The look-off with Rock Point in the distance.
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