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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1949 portrait photo of a young couple seated on an upholstered chair.
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1951 family portrait photo seated in their home. Seen are a father and mother with two boys and an infant held by the wife.
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1945 indoor photo of four young girls and their grandparents.
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- Portraits - Family
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Ca. 1951 indoor photo of the children seen in mcalB15F05i06, this time by themselves in order by height and perhaps age: three boys, one girl.
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1949 or 1950 group portrait of five siblings. Oldest sister holds the youngest child. Photo #2.
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A family gathered in their living room at Christmas (evergreens on the fireplace mantel and tree to far right). An older man and woman sit on a sofa with their daughter (?) and three grown sons(?) standing behind, each in the military. Photo #8. Dated 1945.
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1944 indoor photo of a woman with two young men standing behind her, very likely a mother and her two sons. Picture of the Lord's Supper hangs on the wall to the right.
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1952 indoor photo (poorly developed) of parents and sons celebrating Christmas, looking rather glum. The older boy holds what may be a ukulele. Parker Brothers Skatterbug board game seen to the left. Newell toy gun on the floor.
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1945 indoor photo of 7 family members, two of whom are service men in uniform. Taken perhaps after the War?
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1952 indoor photo of couple and child seen in mcalB15F05i03, but here the couple have switched places.
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1949 or 1950 multi generational family portrait photo taken in a living room with Christmas tree. A mask face clown doll sits on the floor at the far left. Photo #2.
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- Portraits - Family
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Over exposed and blurry photo of family portrait. Same family as seen in mcalB14F12i06 and mcalB14F12i07. Grandmother sits front center. Photo #3.
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- Portraits - Family
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1949-1950 family portrait gathered in a living room. Same family as seen in mcalB14F12i06 and mcalB14F12i07. Grandmother sits front center.
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- Portraits - Family
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1944 indoor photo of 8 family members.
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- Portraits - Family
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1944 indoor Christmas photo of the women in one family, with at least four, possibly five, generations present.
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1944 indoor photo of husband, wife, and infant. See also mcalB14F15i05 for same with more family members.
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1944 indoor photo of same couple in mcalB14F16i10. This view shows more of the room, including the audio console.
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1945 indoor photo of young boy and his mother.
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a. 1945 indoor photo of two couples, perhaps a husband (left), his wife, and her parents (right). Ubiquitous radio (far right) is also quite large. Photo #3.
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1944 indoor photo of mother with child and other family members, as seen in mcalB14F16i04.