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
Pages
- Title
- Billboards
- Description
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Coca Cola billboard advertising sign painted on the side of a brick building. 1953-58
- Title
- Billboards
- Description
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Two 1950s billboards. The one on the left is sponsored by Royer Motor Company located at 173 St. Paul Street, Burlington, Vermont. The other advertises Yankee Doodles pastries by Drake's.
- Title
- Billboards
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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Roadside billboard located in a grassy sandy lot next to a street advertising Florsheim shoes. Business name of Lewis & Blanchard appears at the bottom of the sign. To the extreme right is a white wooden entry-type gate. Undated but may be 1920s. Location unknown but may be lower Main Street in...
Show moreRoadside billboard located in a grassy sandy lot next to a street advertising Florsheim shoes. Business name of Lewis & Blanchard appears at the bottom of the sign. To the extreme right is a white wooden entry-type gate. Undated but may be 1920s. Location unknown but may be lower Main Street in Burlington.
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- Title
- Billboards
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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Roadside billboard advertising for Esso, reminding motorists to have their cars checked during the fall season at Esso. Sign reads "For the fall check-up see your Esso dealer." Pictures an older man portraying a doctor holding a stethoscope to a bare chested boy wearing a football helmet.
- Title
- Billboards
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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Close-up of the roadside billboard advertising Esso. Focus is on an older man portraying a doctor holding a stethoscope to a bare chested boy wearing a football helmet.
- Title
- Black Cat Cafe
- Description
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1930s interior view of the upper banquet room set up for dining at the Black Cat Cafe once located at 160 Bank St in Burlington, Vt. Tables and wait staff are ready for business.
- Title
- Black Cat Cafe
- Description
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1935/37 Black Cat Cafe & Sea Grill at 160 Bank St, Burlington, Vermont. Interior photo showing staff and management personnel along with booths, several padded chairs, coat rack and stairs in the back leading upstairs. Charles Chantis, proprietor. The restaurant burned in the 1970s along with the...
Show more1935/37 Black Cat Cafe & Sea Grill at 160 Bank St, Burlington, Vermont. Interior photo showing staff and management personnel along with booths, several padded chairs, coat rack and stairs in the back leading upstairs. Charles Chantis, proprietor. The restaurant burned in the 1970s along with the rest of the block. Photo #1.
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- Title
- Black Cat Cafe
- Description
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Five musicians stand near a small raised stage in the upper room at the Black Cat Cafe & Sea Grill once located at 160 Bank Street in Burlington, Vt. The iconic black cat symbol is seen in the center. Some of the names (of the performers?) can be seen; John and Jack.
- Title
- Black Cat Cafe
- Description
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1930s Black Cat Cafe & Sea Grill once located at 160 Bank Street in Burlington, Vt. Booths located on the main floor. The restaurant burned in the 1970s along with the rest of the block. Photo #9.
- Title
- Black Cat Cafe
- Description
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Five musicians stand near a small raised stage in the upper room at the Black Cat Cafe & Sea Grill once located at 160 Bank Street in Burlington, Vt. The iconic black cat symbol is seen in the center. Some of the names (of the performers?) can be seen; John and Paul.
- Title
- Bluebirds
- Description
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1953 Bluebirds ceremony with two dozen girls in dress uniform in attendance. Several adults stand in the back including a priest. Photo #1.
- Title
- Bluebirds
- Description
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1957/58 A troop of girls belonging to the Blue Birds (Camp Fire Girls) stands and kneels with a framed poster. The girls are in uniform, some complete with beanie caps with blue bird emblem. Troop leader stands in back. See also mcalA14F16i12 under Portraits, children, unidentified
- Title
- Bluebirds
- Description
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1953 Bluebirds ceremony with two dozen girls in dress uniform in attendance. Several adults stand in the back including a priest. Photo #2.
- Title
- Bluebirds
- Description
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1957-58 A troop of girls belonging to the Blue Birds (Camp Fire Girls) stands and kneels with a framed poster. The girls are in uniform, some complete with beanie caps with blue bird emblem. Troop leader stands in back. See also mcalA14F16i12 under Portraits, children, unidentified
- Title
- Boats
- Description
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1944/1945 photo of a damaged military vessel in dry dock most likely at Shelburne Shipyard. ID code on side of boat reads: "U.S. Army P-239" Late Fall - January
- Title
- Boats
- Date Created
- 1919, undated
- Description
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1958 photo of side view of two yachts or pleasure boats in dry dock lined up in an open shed next to an unpaved access road. Photo #5. See also mcalB07F10i01
- Title
- Boats
- Date Created
- 1919, undated
- Description
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A four top sail schooner standing in water decorated with signal flags strung from the bow across the top of the masts and down to the stern. Sails are furls and people with flags standing on the bow and all along the side.
- Title
- Boats
- Date Created
- 1919, undated
- Description
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Small ferry or pleasure craft standing inside the breakwater of a lake with three men seen standing on deck. Canopy type covering provides cover for the back half of the boat and the pilot house. Lettering on the side of the bow.
- Title
- Boats
- Date Created
- 1945
- Description
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1944-1945 photo of a large boat possibly under construction at the Shelburne Shipyard. View from the ground looking up the side of the ship.
- Title
- Boats
- Description
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1944/1945 Tug boat Pocahontas in dry dock most likely at Shelburne Shipyard. To the right of her is a military vessel with ID code of P-239. Late Fall - January