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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1951 or 1952 group photo of men and women gathered at a rustic restaurant. Knotty pine walls. A large gift wrapped present rests on the table in front of one man. Photo #2.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1945 photo of an extended family, with at least three generations present.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Ca. 1945 photo of a group of young women, dressed for a formal ball. Identity of group, venue, and occasion unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Undated group portrait photo of men and women of various ages gathered in a club or public space. A jute box and piano in background on a stage. An American and another flag also seen. Nursery school images of baby animals attached to back wall. Photo 4.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1944 photo of a group of men and women gathered for a meal in a restaurant or other dining room. Location, occasion unknown.
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Another 1949 photo of a group of men, women, a nun and children gathered in a room; perhaps a kitchen (linoleum floor) for a portrait. See also mcalB16F01i06 with just the adults. Photo #5.
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1951 photo of a man appearing to be placing a pin on the lapel of another man while four other men look on. They stand in a large open space in a commercial building. A metal office desk is behind them.
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1945 photo of a large gathering of men and women in a restaurant or other dining facility. Half the group has left their seats and stood along the wall for the portrait. A few men are wearing military uniforms. Identity of the group, venue, and occasion are unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1948 photo of a group of men and women involved with General Home Equipment (see mcalB15F23i04). Location and occasion are unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1949 photo of an older man in a business suit and hat putting a window in an opening of a building. Location may be (University of Vermont?) horse barn. See mcalB16F14i19 for another exposure.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1945 photo of a restaurant scene or perhaps a college dining hall. Identity of group, venue, and special occasion, if any, are unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1949 photo of a group of workmen playing cards in a locker lunch room at a wooden table with bench seats attached. Metal lunchboxes on shelf above table. Lockers seen behind as well as a sign "Please put all waste paper & refuse in containers provided."
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Ca. 1948 photo of a large group of men, perhaps at the end of a Christmas party. Identity of persons, location, and occasion are unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1952 group portrait photo of young people along with several men and women gathered around dining tables in a rustic restaurant.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Mid 1950s photo of a photo pinned to a surface showing several men standing in a room with a bold patterned carpet and musical instrument print curtains behind. Each holds a paper or program.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1935 or 1936. A dining hall at Mount St. Mary's is heavily decorated with crepe paper streamers attached to the ceiling. Tables are elaborately set with food with each having a cloth place mat draping the table covering and a place card. Columns are adorned with streamers and evergreen bows. An...
Show more1935 or 1936. A dining hall at Mount St. Mary's is heavily decorated with crepe paper streamers attached to the ceiling. Tables are elaborately set with food with each having a cloth place mat draping the table covering and a place card. Columns are adorned with streamers and evergreen bows. An all male wait staff stands ready to serve this Christmas meal at Mount St. Mary's. See also mcalA15F08i13, mcalA11F19i07 and mcalB15F12i15.
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1944 photo of a group of men and women (2) who appear to be employees of Corenco, an award-winning company for safety. Location (not listed in Burlington/Winooski directories) and further details on the identity of the group or the occasion are unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Mid 1950s photo of young people with several adults gathered in a rustic restaurant. Overhead hangs a wooden log chandelier. See mcalB16F07i08 for a 1953 photo of another group. Photo #1.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1945 photo of a group of men and women in a restaurant of other dining facility. Identity of group, venue, and occasion are unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Ca. 1945 photo of a group of young women, very likely a sorority, gathered for a celebration. Identity, venue, and occasion unknown.