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
- Musical Ensembles
- Description
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Student band (may be Christ the King) with Rev. Benjamin Wysolmerski. Location unknown, may be Burlington, Vermont. Event may be All State. Undated.
- Title
- Musical Ensembles
- Description
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Undated McLure's Student Band from McIndoes, Vermont assembled on the steps of Burlington Vermont's City Hall (facing City Hall Park). May be part of All State music event. Photo #1.
- Title
- Musical Ensembles
- Description
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Student band (may be Christ the King) with Rev. Benjamin Wysolmerski, second pose. Location unknown, may be Burlington, Vermont. Event may be All State. Undated.
- Title
- Nazareth School - Graduates
- Description
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Nazareth School, Class of 1960, as identified in the St. Joseph parish history. Rev. Charles Marcoux (pastor, 1956-1970) is in the center, wearing perhaps his own graduation gown. Photo #2.
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- Nazareth School - Graduates
- Description
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Nazareth School Class of 1957, with Rev. Charles Marcoux standing in the center. These 8th graders would go on to Cathedral High School or Mt. St. Mary's (girls only) if they wished to continue Catholic education in Burlington.
- Title
- Nazareth School - Graduates
- Description
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1945 photo of Nazareth School graduates in cap and gown assembled in front of the school. Engraved above the main entrance "Ecole Nazareth 1929." Clergy present are Rev. Joseph Pariseau (pastor, 1933-1956) and Rev. William F. LaLiberte (curate, 1943-1951). Photo #1.
- Title
- Portraits - Individuals
- Description
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A young lady and a young man (holding a rolled diploma?) are dressed for a special occasion. They stand in backyard of McAllister' s home at 47 No. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Dated 1949.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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Four teenager girls pose as if to dance or cheer. They wear full skirts; one quilted with black cats. They stand in a school gymnasium (basketball hoop seen in the background). Wood logs rest on fire irons on the floor in front of them.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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Large group of young people and some adults in a restaurant, perhaps students and teachers. Location, occasion, date unknown.
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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A large group of children with several women are seated in a horse shoe arrangement. Location is the lower level of First Congregational Church in Burlington, Vermont as there are other labeled photos in the collection (e.g. mcalA09F12i01)
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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School children class photo. Photo #1.
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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A group of young children, perhaps kindergarten age, seen in their day care center (may be a church or nursery setting). They sit or stand with nearby tables, chairs, slide, sandbox and baby carriage. A woman stands in the back over seeing the boys and girls.
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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Sunday School for a group of children engaged in cutting construction paper and working on a project. Taken in a building on Orchard Terrace, known as "The Pilgrim House", purchased by the First Congregational Church for Sunday School use. House demolished in 1960s to make way for new addition to...
Show moreSunday School for a group of children engaged in cutting construction paper and working on a project. Taken in a building on Orchard Terrace, known as "The Pilgrim House", purchased by the First Congregational Church for Sunday School use. House demolished in 1960s to make way for new addition to the church. The children sit at tables. A woman leans over the children also helping with the cutting. The floor is carpeted, the blinds drawn at the two windows in the back. One little boy kneels near a doll house. Photo #9. See also mcalA14F16i31.
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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, groups, unidentified
- Description
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Students gather around a table displaying a variety of publications by the Catholic Press. Banners and posters encourage students to read books printed by the publisher. "February is Catholic Press month" reads one of the posters hanging from the front of the table. "Be Catholic, read Catholic .....
Show moreStudents gather around a table displaying a variety of publications by the Catholic Press. Banners and posters encourage students to read books printed by the publisher. "February is Catholic Press month" reads one of the posters hanging from the front of the table. "Be Catholic, read Catholic ... join the millions who read the Catholic Press" reads a wall banner. Photo no. 3. Location may be in the school's library. Undated but may be 1950s. See also mcalA09F05i10.
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- Title
- Saint Anthony's Church and School
- Date Created
- 1947
- Description
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1947 photo of Rev. Edmund Marion standing with St. Anthony Confirmation students. Church is on the left, school is behind the group, and the rectory is on the right. Students are holding programs for the special day.
- Title
- Saint Joseph's School - Class Dinners
- Date Created
- 1948
- Description
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1948 photo of a parish dinner in honor of a graduating class from St. Joseph's school (Ecole Nazareth). Among those seated at the head table are the Rt. Rev. Joseph E. Pariseau, pastor, and (2nd from right) a member of the Daughters of the Holy Ghost, a Catholic order of religious women active as...
Show more1948 photo of a parish dinner in honor of a graduating class from St. Joseph's school (Ecole Nazareth). Among those seated at the head table are the Rt. Rev. Joseph E. Pariseau, pastor, and (2nd from right) a member of the Daughters of the Holy Ghost, a Catholic order of religious women active as educators at Ecole Nazareth since 1943.
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- Title
- Salvation Army
- Date Created
- 1947
- Description
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1947 photo of what appears to be a children's chorus singing at a Salvation Army event. The Burlington mission was at 117 Cherry St. for several decades and may be the location here. Among the officers in the back row are Maj. Ed Russell (2nd from left) and his wife, Maj. Elsie Russell (2nd from...
Show more1947 photo of what appears to be a children's chorus singing at a Salvation Army event. The Burlington mission was at 117 Cherry St. for several decades and may be the location here. Among the officers in the back row are Maj. Ed Russell (2nd from left) and his wife, Maj. Elsie Russell (2nd from right). The Russells were in charge ca. 1940-1951.
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- Title
- Salvation Army
- Date Created
- 1947
- Description
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1947 - Salvation Army children's class. Children of various ages hold what appear to be certificates. Perhaps certificates of completion of a summer vacation bible school? Location may be 117 Cherry St. mission in Burlington. Majors Ed and Elsie Russell are standing in front of the door, far...
Show more1947 - Salvation Army children's class. Children of various ages hold what appear to be certificates. Perhaps certificates of completion of a summer vacation bible school? Location may be 117 Cherry St. mission in Burlington. Majors Ed and Elsie Russell are standing in front of the door, far right. They served in Burlington ca. 1940-1951.
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- Title
- Salvation Army
- Date Created
- 1947
- Description
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1947 - Salvation Army children's presentation in front of audience (of parents, family?). Children of various ages hold what appear to be folded and printed program. Perhaps this is a holiday event? Location may be Cherry St headquarters in Burlington. Photo #2.