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 photo of three children seated in front of their Christmas tree with gifts the family received in the background. The two girls wear party dresses. Their brother sits between them.
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1945 photo of toddler seated in front of a Christmas tree with presents in a living room that include a googly eye mask face doll and a wooden wheeled riding horse. Note: Western Electric metal nondial space-saver wall telephone (1930-1957) with answer only capability seen to the right.
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- Portraits - Children
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1956 / 1957 portrait photo of an infant baby girl sitting in a chair.
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- Portraits - Children
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Undated portrait photo of a young girl standing in a living room. She wears her First Communion dress. Photo #1.
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- Portraits - Children
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1957 or 1958 photo of two children standing in front of their Christmas tree surrounded by presents the family received. A baby carriage, dolls, a toy airplane, labeled box with air rifle outfit, a toaster and clothes are seen displayed. See also mcalB14F09i01
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- Portraits - Children
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1946 or 1947 photo of an baby girl seated on a small table posing for a portrait. She rests her hand on a stuffed toy panda bear .
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A photo of two young children seated upon an upholstered stool each dressed in a German / Austrian / Tyrolean type outfit without the hat on the boy. A golden retriever dog lays in front. A fireplace is seen behind. See also mcalA14F16i06 and mcalA14F16i08
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- Portraits - Children
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1950 photo of an infant in a living room in front of a Christmas tree. Child is seated the on arm of an upholstered chair. A satin quilted baby blanket is spread out on the floor. Mother smiles at the far left. See also mcalB15F03i19 for mother and father with baby.
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Three young children pose next to their Christmas tree with gifts. The girl holds a small hard plastic doll that may be a Vogue Ginny popular in the 1950s. Other presents are arranged in a display around the tree and on the upholstered chair. See also mcalA14F15i14
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- Portraits - Children
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Four children pose by their Christmas tree in the living room of their home. The two younger children sit in chairs. Their older brother stands in the back next with the family dog and next to his older sister. Wooden skis and teddy bears seen. Same family as seen in mcalA14F15i19 and in...
Show moreFour children pose by their Christmas tree in the living room of their home. The two younger children sit in chairs. Their older brother stands in the back next with the family dog and next to his older sister. Wooden skis and teddy bears seen. Same family as seen in mcalA14F15i19 and in mcalB14F10i03.
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- Portraits - Children
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1956 or 1957 photo of four children in front of the Christmas tree with their toys. Same family of children [plus one?] as in mcalB14F05i15 taken in 1949 or 1950? See also mcalB14F09i02
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- Portraits - Children
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1959 Christmas portrait photo of same children (plus one) as seen in mcalB14F09i01 and mcalB14F09i04. Their baby sibling sits between them.
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- Portraits - Children
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1946 or 1947 photo of a young boy and girl (siblings?) in their home with Christmas tree and presents. The girl sits on a tricycle with her small purse hanging from the handle bars. Same children as seen in mcalB14F04i11
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- Portraits - Children
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1944 portrait photo of a very young girl seated in a wooden chair with a young boy. They are in front of the Christmas tree and a make shift fireplace. A radio and a 1920s style telephone set on top of the "fireplace" that has been covered with brick patterned paper.
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- Portraits - Children
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Undated portrait photo of a young girl standing in a living room. She wears her First Communion dress. Photo #1.Same girl as in mcalB14F11i02
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- Portraits - Children
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1946 or 1947 photo of a living room with Christmas tree, an infant in a jumper seat and a woman (child's mother?) on the left. Plush stuffed animals and baby rattles on the floor. Same child in mcalB14F04i10
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- Portraits - Children
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1946 or 1947 photo of a young boy and his infant sibling standing in front of the family Christmas tree with their presents that include a plush bunny rabbit doll with mask face.
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- Portraits - Children
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1951 photo of three children in front of their Christmas tree surrounded by gifts the family received. The two boys wear cowboy outfits. Their younger sister seats between them. See another image of same children mcalB14F06i05
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- Portraits - Children
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1949 - 1950 portrait photo of three children (an infant, a sister and a brother) in a living room with Christmas tree. The boy sits on a bicycle with training wheels, the girl stands in a metal children's wagon, the infant is resting in an upholstered child's rocking chair. Other presents are...
Show more1949 - 1950 portrait photo of three children (an infant, a sister and a brother) in a living room with Christmas tree. The boy sits on a bicycle with training wheels, the girl stands in a metal children's wagon, the infant is resting in an upholstered child's rocking chair. Other presents are displayed and include a toy train with tracks, a cowboy outfit, fire extension ladder truck, a baby doll, coffee pot and toaster. Mom's smiling face is reflected in the mirror above the fireplace.
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- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
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1956 or 1957 photo of four children in front of the Christmas tree with their toys. Same family of children [plus one?] as in mcalB14F05i15 taken in 1949 or 1950? See also mcalB14F08i02