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
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- Title
- Burlington - Street Views
- Description
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An alley and back lot with parked cars and surrounding buildings.
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- Burlington Asphalt Plant
- Description
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Burlington Asphalt Plant automobile, trucks, and drivers
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- Burlington City Hall
- Description
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June 1, 1927. Construction of Burlington City Hall showing scaffolding for cupola and partial view of the fire station. James E. Cashman, General contractor.
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- Burlington City Hall
- Description
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Scaffolding surrounds the cupola of Burlington City Hall in this dated September 2, 1927 photo. Three different types of automobiles (truck, car, longer car) are parked in front. Sawhorses and other construction materials seen to the left.
- Title
- Burlington Daily News
- Description
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1946/47 Eight child paper-carriers stand beside a car with writing on its side "St. Albans, Vt., Franklin County" in front of the Wells Richardson Building, College Street, Burlington, Vermont. Location of the newspaper the Burlington Daily News. This photo also appears in Images of America...
Show more1946/47 Eight child paper-carriers stand beside a car with writing on its side "St. Albans, Vt., Franklin County" in front of the Wells Richardson Building, College Street, Burlington, Vermont. Location of the newspaper the Burlington Daily News. This photo also appears in Images of America Burlington, p. 64.
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- Title
- Burlington Federal Savings
- Description
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The Burlington Federal Savings building under construction. 1958.
- Title
- Burlington Lakefront
- Description
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December 20, 1932. This photograph of the Burlington lake front is captioned: "Outfall end of new trunk line sewer. Old sewer shown on extreme right," Picture also shows brick building with smokestacks, automobiles, and railroad cars.
- Title
- Burlington Street Department Buildings (Pine Street)
- Description
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December 9, 1942. Burlington Street Department, Burlington, Vt. This view shows the triangular area at the Central Plant yard from which the old Robinson-Edwards Lumber Co. building was removed and rebuilt. Note the Street Department flagpole with the United States Flag and the Minute Man Flag as...
Show moreDecember 9, 1942. Burlington Street Department, Burlington, Vt. This view shows the triangular area at the Central Plant yard from which the old Robinson-Edwards Lumber Co. building was removed and rebuilt. Note the Street Department flagpole with the United States Flag and the Minute Man Flag as a reward for the 100% Department cooperation in the buying of war stamps and bonds by its employees.
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- Title
- Burlington Street Department Buildings (Pine Street)
- Description
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Burlington Street Department, Burlington, Vt. This view shows the triangular area at the Central Plant yard from which the old Robinson-Edwards Lumber Co. building was removed and rebuilt. Note the Street Department flagpole with the United States Flag and the Minute Man Flag as a reward for the...
Show moreBurlington Street Department, Burlington, Vt. This view shows the triangular area at the Central Plant yard from which the old Robinson-Edwards Lumber Co. building was removed and rebuilt. Note the Street Department flagpole with the United States Flag and the Minute Man Flag as a reward for the 100% Department cooperation in the buying of war stamps and bonds by its employees.
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- Title
- Burlington Street Department Buildings (Pine Street)
- Description
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Central Plant building of the Burlington Street Department
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Colchester Ave
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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Undated photo but may be late 1920s (1928-1929). View is at the base of Colchester Ave looking up the hill with Lower Winooski Road (Riverside Ave) to the right. Automobiles line up in the intersection. To the far right are billboards and an abandoned trolley car. The cable running across the...
Show moreUndated photo but may be late 1920s (1928-1929). View is at the base of Colchester Ave looking up the hill with Lower Winooski Road (Riverside Ave) to the right. Automobiles line up in the intersection. To the far right are billboards and an abandoned trolley car. The cable running across the photo may be for the no longer used trolley. Construction crew works on street pavement.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Colchester Ave
- Date Created
- 1939-10-21
- Description
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View of the base of Colchester Ave at the Winooski Bridge near Barrett Street. Possibly 487 Colchester. Automobiles are parked along the store front of a corner grocery or convenience store (that may be owned by Ernest C. Potvin as listed in the 1929 Burlington City Directory) that advertises...
Show moreView of the base of Colchester Ave at the Winooski Bridge near Barrett Street. Possibly 487 Colchester. Automobiles are parked along the store front of a corner grocery or convenience store (that may be owned by Ernest C. Potvin as listed in the 1929 Burlington City Directory) that advertises cigars, cigarettes and Salada Tea in this Oct. 21, 1929 photo.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Howard St.
- Description
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November 9, 1945. Howard Street Pavement and Sidewalk Project. This view was taken at the intersection of Pine Street looking easterly. Note the new concrete sidewalk on north side and new integral concrete curbs and gutters on both sides of pavement. The Hot Plant Mix Asphalt Wearing Surface was...
Show moreNovember 9, 1945. Howard Street Pavement and Sidewalk Project. This view was taken at the intersection of Pine Street looking easterly. Note the new concrete sidewalk on north side and new integral concrete curbs and gutters on both sides of pavement. The Hot Plant Mix Asphalt Wearing Surface was just being completed when this picture was taken. Grading has been completed between sidewalk and curb on north side.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Lakeside Ave
- Description
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Aug. 3, 1944. This view taken from Rutland Railroad tracks over underpass looking easterly on Lakeside Ave. shows condition of shoulder on outside of concrete pavement on the right where new concrete slab is to be constructed. Entrances to parking area will have to be recessed and old transformer...
Show moreAug. 3, 1944. This view taken from Rutland Railroad tracks over underpass looking easterly on Lakeside Ave. shows condition of shoulder on outside of concrete pavement on the right where new concrete slab is to be constructed. Entrances to parking area will have to be recessed and old transformer pole removed in foreground.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Lower)
- Description
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September 1, 1929 dated photo. Main Street looking west from the easterly side of South Winooski Ave. just before resurfacing with stone filled sheet asphalt paving. Note the old trolley (cable) car tracks and overhead wires which have been abandoned, also note the irregular and worn condition of...
Show moreSeptember 1, 1929 dated photo. Main Street looking west from the easterly side of South Winooski Ave. just before resurfacing with stone filled sheet asphalt paving. Note the old trolley (cable) car tracks and overhead wires which have been abandoned, also note the irregular and worn condition of the old brick pavement. Strong Theatre, Post Office and mansard roofed building (167-169 Main) that once was a place of worship for the First Baptist Church on the left. Retail businesses on the right. Automobiles parked on both sides of the street. In the far right foreground a man leans against a street light pole.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Lower)
- Description
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Oct. 19, 1929 view of lower Main Street at the intersection of So. Winooski Ave. Trolley (cable car) tracks are not seen on the road surface but the overhead cables (wires) are still visible. On the left in foreground is the Strong Theatre, Court house just beyond and further down is the Mansard...
Show moreOct. 19, 1929 view of lower Main Street at the intersection of So. Winooski Ave. Trolley (cable car) tracks are not seen on the road surface but the overhead cables (wires) are still visible. On the left in foreground is the Strong Theatre, Court house just beyond and further down is the Mansard roofed building that once was a place of worship for the First Baptist Church. Retail stores line the right side of the street. Parked automobiles both sides of the street.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Lower)
- Description
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Sept. 1, 1929. View of Main Street looking east up the hill from intersection of Church Street. Note the old trolley car tracks and overhead wires, also uneven and worn condition of the old brick pavement. This picture was taken just before constructing the new asphalt pavement by the city street...
Show moreSept. 1, 1929. View of Main Street looking east up the hill from intersection of Church Street. Note the old trolley car tracks and overhead wires, also uneven and worn condition of the old brick pavement. This picture was taken just before constructing the new asphalt pavement by the city street dept., using the old brick pavement as a base. Parked cars and businesses line both sides of the street. On the right is the Strong Theatre with a sign along one side of the building advertising "Vermont home of Chilton Paint Co." In the distant center of photo a car cruises through the intersection of Main and South Winooski Ave.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Lower)
- Description
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Oct. 19, 1929 view of Main Street looking east up the hill following the repaving of the street over the old brick surface and the trolley car tracks done by the city street dept. The overhead cable wires are still visible. To the right is the Strong Theatre and the "Vermont home of the Chilton...
Show moreOct. 19, 1929 view of Main Street looking east up the hill following the repaving of the street over the old brick surface and the trolley car tracks done by the city street dept. The overhead cable wires are still visible. To the right is the Strong Theatre and the "Vermont home of the Chilton Paint Co."
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Upper)
- Description
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May 26, 1938 view of Main Street near the intersection of South Union Street looking east up the hill showing smooth surfaced road. On the far right is a corner of Edmunds High School (Burlington High School). Earlier and later models of parked cars are seen on both sides of the street.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Upper)
- Description
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An overturned automobile lays in the intersection of upper Main Street. A small crowd of onlookers stand by the curb. This photo appears in Images of America Burlington, p. 67. May date from the 1920s.