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
-
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 #3.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
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.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
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.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1945 indoor photo taken at Christmas time, with 3 generations present. A portrait of a family member, very likely still on active duty, is placed in the tree.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
Ca. 1956 indoor Christmas photo of a couple and their two children gathered near the tree.
- 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
-
1945 indoor photo of a family gathering at Christmas, with several military personnel present. The first Christmas after the end of World War II very likely prompted many families to have a portrait photo taken. (Same family as in mcalB14F24i24, minus one or two.)
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1952 indoor Christmas photo of a couple, their 2 sons, and the family dog, unwrapping presents including a Newell vacuum repeater BURP toy gun (that shoots plastic ball). The older boy holds what may be a ukulele. See also mcalB14F06i13
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1950 family portrait photo of a husband, wife and infant gathered in their living room with Christmas tree. Same baby as seen in mcalB14F05i11. See also mcalB15F04i08.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1951 indoor photo of three children with their parents, Grandfather and family dog in front of their Christmas tree. A Santa Claus wall hanging decoration seen behind. See also mcalB14F06i04 for just the children. Photo #2.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1945 indoor photo taken at Christmas of a mother holding her child while her son looks ahead with amazement.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
Ca. 1956 indoor Christmas photo of a couple and their two children gathered near the tree.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1944 indoor photo of family at Christmas. Probable: Husband and wife (standing), with daughter or daughter-in-law (seated), who is married to serviceman in the portrait next to the tree.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1951 family portrait photo gathered in front of the Christmas tree with presents of bedroom lamps, toys. Same family as seen in mcalB14F06i06, mcalB15F03i19, mcalB15F04i08 and mcalB15F04i09
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1949 or 1950 multi generational family portrait photo in living room with Christmas tree. A mask face clown doll sits on the floor to the far left.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1945 indoor photo of four well-dressed children and their mother at Christmas time. A portrait of their father, very likely, is on the fireplace mantel (left).
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
Ca. 1946 indoor photo of the family in mcalB14F25i12, now gathered around the Christmas tree. The mother of the boy is very likely the daughter-in-law of the couple on the right.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1945 indoor photo taken at Christmas, with 2-3 family generations present, as well as a portrait of son or husband on active duty after World War II. The young girl holds a composition baby doll. A toy wooden train seen on the floor.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1952 family Christmas portrait with tree, sled, sand truck, doll. Same family as seen in mcalB14F06i06, mcalB15F03i19, mcalB15F04i08, mcalB15F04i09, mcalB15F04i10
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
A 1951 portrait photo of a mother, father, infant and older brother seated in front of the Christmas tree. Same family as in mcalB15F04i08 and mcalB15F03i19