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
Show less
Related Archival Collection
Pages
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
Mother and child seen in mcalB14F16i04.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1945 indoor photo of two service men (standing), their parents and sisters.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1945 indoor photo of a man and a woman. Many floral patterns in the interior decoration.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1948 or 1949 group family portrait photo inside their home. See also mcalB14F05i06 for just the three children and mcalB15F01i04 for the family outdoors.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1945 indoor photo of extended family, including two navy seamen, and several young children. A radio on its stand to the right. A wall flower holder seen behind to the left. See also mcalB14F24i01 for woman and two sailors only.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1952 family Christmas portrait with tree, sled, sand truck, doll. Same family as seen in mcalB14F06i06, mcalB15F03i19, mcalB15F04i08, mcalB15F04i09, mcalB15F04i10, mcalB15F05i17
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1951 family portrait photo with mother, father, their two boys and new baby. The toy service station seen in the far right corner. See also mcalB14F06i08 for photo with just the children.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1944 indoor photo of five family members, with three generations present (and perhaps a serviceman absent). Probable: two sisters (standing), their parents, and infant grandchild.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1944 indoor photo of couple relaxing at home. Many interesting details in decoration, fashion, and also the newspaper headlines.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1952 indoor photo of same man seen with infant and elderly lady in mcalB15F05i03, here seen apparently with wife and 2 sons.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1945 indoor photo of a woman and two sailors, very likely a mother and her two sons. A portrait of the sailor on the left can be seen on the wall (right). Same location as mcalB14F22i10 with more family members.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
Another portrait photo of young couple as seen in mcalB15F02i05 seated on a very large (Art Deco style?) upholstered chair with wide arms.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1949 or 1950 group portrait of four young children and a young woman (oldest sister)
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
Ca. 1951 indoor photo of elegantly dressed couple. Room has bold wallpaper and stylish furniture.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
Ca. 1945 indoor photo of a girl, her mother, and (possibly) grandfather and great-grandmother.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1944 indoor family portrait photo. Mother holds a new born baby girl.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
Ca. 1951 indoor photo of couple seen in mcalB15F05i05, now joined by their children. Wallpaper has an exotic look. Family conveys confidence and prosperity.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
Another photo of mother and her three grown children. Mother sits in a very large upholstered armchair (Art Deco style?) Sons sit on the chair arms on either side of their mother. Framed picture behind reads in part "Welcome Guest!" Photo #1. Dated 1949.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1945 indoor photo of 4 young children and their grandparents.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1944 indoor photo of mother with eight children, as seen in mcalB14F17i08.