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
- Automobiles - Sales and Service (D-G)
- Description
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Summer 1952. Construciton of new Gulf gas service station at the corner of Pearl Street and North Winooski Ave., Burlington, Vt. Young's drug store to the left. Winter-Spring.
- Title
- Automobiles - Sales and Service (D-G)
- Description
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Gulf gas service station at the corner of Pearl Street and No. Winooski Ave, Burlington. C.A. Congdon Construction. Also seen is Young's drug store to the left. 1952?
- Title
- Automobiles - Sales and Service (Q-Z)
- Description
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1951 photo of two Yandow Motor Company employees. Located at 11-15 So. Winooski Ave., Burlington, Vt.
- Title
- Automobiles - Sales and Service (unkown)
- Description
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1947 or 1948 interior view of an open bay area of an auto repair workshop with some machines along the far wall.
- Title
- Automobiles - Sales and Service (unkown)
- Description
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1946/47 gas service station ; location may be somewhere along Main St. in Winooski, Vermont. Could this be Roscoe's Garage at 262 Main St.? The twin church spires in background are those of St. Francis Xavier at 3 St. Peter Street in Winooski.
- Title
- Automobiles - Sales and Service (unkown)
- Description
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1947 refurbished interior view of an open bay area of an auto repair workshop with some machines along the far wall. Ceiling and floor have been redone. Two smaller old style ceiling light bulb fixtures have been removed.
- Title
- Automobiles - Sales and Service (unkown)
- Description
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1947 interior view of an open bay area of an auto repair workshop with some machines along the far wall.
- Title
- Automobiles - Sales and Service (unkown)
- Description
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1947 interior view of an open bay area of an auto repair workshop with some machines along the far wall.
- Title
- Automobiles - Sales and Service (unkown)
- Description
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1947 interior view of an open bay area of an auto repair workshop with some machines along the far wall.
- Title
- B'Nai Brith
- Date Created
- 1933-01-22
- Description
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A formal group portrait photo of members of B'Nai B'rith seated and standing in a large open room facing the photographer. Caption on the photo reads "B'Nai B'rith 5th Anniversary Banquet, Joseph Frank Lodge 1109, Jan. 22, 1933.
- Title
- Basin Harbor Map
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
-
Map titled "Lodge Grounds, Basin Harbor, Vt." shows roads, identifies buildings, and the environs.
- 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
-
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
-
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
-
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
- Bishop Louis De Gosbriand Hospital
- Description
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A very darkly developed photo of the Bishop Louis De Gosbriand Hospital located at the corner of Pearl Street and So. Prospect St in Burlington, Vermont. A group of nuns stand on the steps left of center.
- 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 booths, several padded chairs, coat rack and stairs in the back. Charles Chantis, proprietor. The restaurant burned in the 1970s along with the rest of the block. Photo #8.
- Title
- Black Cat Cafe
- Description
-
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
-
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.