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
- Portraits - Family
- Description
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1945 indoor photo taken at Christmas of mother holding her youngest child and the other two sitting in their chairs.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
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1951 Christmas photo with a young boy holding his younger sibling. Dad seen to the left, Mom seen to the right. See also mcalB15F03i19 for earlier family photo taken in 1950 when the little boy was a baby.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
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1950 portrait photo of a mother and her baby boy seated in front of Christmas tree. A child's quilt is spread on the floor next to them. See also mcalB14F05i11 and mcalB15F03i19
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
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1944 indoor photo at Christmas of elderly lady (grandmother or even great-grandmother) seen in mcalB14F16i07 and two children. US Air Force hanging on right wall may indicate the armed service of one or more men in the family.
- Title
- Portraits - Individuals
- Description
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1944 Christmas photo of a young woman seated near decorated tree in living room. A fake fireplace with Santa seen to the right. A photo of service man at base of tree. See also mcalB14F16i01 for other family members.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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Ca. 1945 photo of a large group of men and women, standing at a banquet table with a large American flag and "Welcome Home" sign behind them (also an undecorated Christmas tree). Very likely a dinner for returning GIs, or perhaps the man in uniform in the front row.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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1945 photo of a large group of women, members of a club or society, gathered in front of a tree at a Christmas party. One woman has Santa Claus beard. Identity of group and location unknown.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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A large group of women gather to celebrate Christmas. A tree is behind them and Santa Claus sits front row center. Dated 1945.
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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A Christmas photo of a large group of children seated on raised bleachers in a narrow room. Boys (wearing suits and ties) are seated on one side ; the girls on the other. On the floor between the two bleacher sections is Santa Claus (in suit and face mask) along with many other younger children....
Show moreA Christmas photo of a large group of children seated on raised bleachers in a narrow room. Boys (wearing suits and ties) are seated on one side ; the girls on the other. On the floor between the two bleacher sections is Santa Claus (in suit and face mask) along with many other younger children. Each child holds a Christmas stocking filled with gifts and treats. A large decorated Christmas tree is seen in the center background.
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- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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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 in which the boys sit. See also mcalB14F11i08
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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Four children pose by their Christmas tree in the living room of their home. The two children seated on the floor each hold a toy; a metal spinning top and a doll. The boy standing in the back holds the family dog and the older girl proudly wears her "poodle" skirt with Scottie. See also...
Show moreFour children pose by their Christmas tree in the living room of their home. The two children seated on the floor each hold a toy; a metal spinning top and a doll. The boy standing in the back holds the family dog and the older girl proudly wears her "poodle" skirt with Scottie. See also mcalB14F10i03
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- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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A school classroom seen with students dressed in costume. Santa stands in the back with a mask face. A Christmas tree is to the far left. American flag adorns the wall behind as does a poster (left) reading American Junior Red Cross.
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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A man and woman gather near a Christmas tree in their home with a young boy and girl. Christmas gifts are displayed beneath the tree. They include a chemistry outfit and a model train set. The girl holds a doll. See also mcalA15F03i01 for an earlier Christmas photo.
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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A Christmas family portrait with mother, father and four children. Gifts seen beneath the tree and behind. The oldest girl proudly holds up her hard plastic bride doll in wedding gown and veil.
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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A man and woman sit in front of a Christmas tree in their home with a young boy and girl. Christmas gifts are displayed behind them. They include a doll's baby carriage, snow shovels, an archery set and more. The girl holds a doll.
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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A group of men and women gather on in a rustic wood paneled room (perhaps a restaurant). Overhead hangs a large folding tissue paper bell. Appears to be a Christmas celebration as a small tree and Santa Claus decoration are on the head table. Undated.
- Title
- Salvation Army
- Date Created
- 1944
- Description
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An ill developed 1944 photo of bagged Christmas packages each with the Salvation literature, "The War Cry" destined as gifts to the needy. A member of the Salvation Army to the left hands a bag to a woman . A decorated Christmas tree is behind and portrait painting of "General" William Booth,...
Show moreAn ill developed 1944 photo of bagged Christmas packages each with the Salvation literature, "The War Cry" destined as gifts to the needy. A member of the Salvation Army to the left hands a bag to a woman . A decorated Christmas tree is behind and portrait painting of "General" William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, hangs on the wall. Maj. Ed Russell stands on the far right. Portrait can be seen at: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3b39560/
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- Title
- Salvation Army
- Date Created
- 1944
- Description
-
1944 photo of bagged Christmas packages each with the Salvation literature, "The War Cry" destined as gifts to the needy. A member of the Salvation Army to the left hands a bag to a woman . A decorated Christmas tree is behind and portrait painting of "General" William Booth, founder of the...
Show more1944 photo of bagged Christmas packages each with the Salvation literature, "The War Cry" destined as gifts to the needy. A member of the Salvation Army to the left hands a bag to a woman . A decorated Christmas tree is behind and portrait painting of "General" William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, hangs on the wall. Maj. Ed Russell stands on the far right. Portrait can be seen at: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3b39560/
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- Title
- Theatricals
- Description
-
1946 / 1947 Christmas pageant. Photo #2.
- Title
- Theatricals
- Description
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1947 Christmas gathering of children, an angel, Santa Claus and his little elf helper and a Christmas tree in the background. They are in the hallway of a school or other public building. One rides a hobby horse and a girl plays the xylophone.