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
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- Portraits - Individuals
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High school graduation yearbook photo contact sheet. McAllister's grandniece, Joanne Raymond. Probably 1958.
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- Portraits - Individuals
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Graduation yearbook photo contact sheet. McAllister's grandniece, Joanne Raymond. Dated 1958.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Four young women (teenagers?, high school students?) stand in a row on a stage. Three are in identical outfits. Photo #2.
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- Portraits, children, unidentified
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Eight young women and a little girl stand in the Sacred Heart Chapel of Mount St. Mary's Academy, Burlington, Vermont as participants of the Catholic ritual, May Crowning. The girls are dressed in gowns with the statue of the crowned Virgin Mary behind adorned with gladiolas. See also mcalA15F09i07
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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A photo of a large choral group, possibly Burlington High School students as they pose in their robes for a group portrait. Location is the auditorium attached to the Edmunds building where BHS was held. Photo #10.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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Portrait photo of a choral group of young men and women, possibly high school students with their director.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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Mount St. Mary's Academy school chorus. Third row back, 3rd in from the left possibly Therese Tessier (later Kneen), a student at the school 1961 (also member of the Cheering Squad). Photo #18?
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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A photo of a large choral group, possibly Burlington High School students as they pose in their robes for a group portrait. Location is the auditorium attached to the Edmunds building where BHS was held.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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High school home economics class is seen here with uniformed (Catholic?) female students operating a sewing machines, looking through a book or cutting fabric. A crucifix and picture of Jesus hang on the wall. The class instructor looks on.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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1955 photo Mr. Ben B. Lane of The Lane Press in Burlington stands with his daughter, Vickie Lane, looking at a framed wall hanging entitled "This is a printing office". A signature seems to appear in the lower right corner of the wall hanging. Photo appears in the 1955 BHS yearbook Oread, p. 145.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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Portrait photo of a choral group of young men and women, possibly high school students with their director.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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Burlington High School chorus readied for a Christmas concert gather in the BHS (Edmunds) auditorium / gymnasium. They are dressed in the traditional white top, dark skirt/pants. A large banner above and behind them reads "Merry Christmas." Music stands and chairs grouped in the right foreground....
Show moreBurlington High School chorus readied for a Christmas concert gather in the BHS (Edmunds) auditorium / gymnasium. They are dressed in the traditional white top, dark skirt/pants. A large banner above and behind them reads "Merry Christmas." Music stands and chairs grouped in the right foreground. Photo #2.
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- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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A high school history class is seen with six female uniformed (Catholic?) students focused on a large map showing the campaigns and empire of Alexander (the Great).
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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A group of high school students gather for a portrait. The girls are in uniform of a Catholic school; the boys are in suits and ties.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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Group of men standing in front of the Edmunds High School when it was a high school. Undated but may be 1920s, 1930s. Photo #3.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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Portrait photo of a choral group of young men and women, possibly high school students with their director.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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Several young men (high school students?) stand outside on the steps of what may be Edmunds High School in Burlington, Vermont for a group photo. Undated but may be 1930s. Photo #2.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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Mount Saint Mary's Academy school chorus. Back row, 6th in from the left possibly Therese Tessier (later Kneen), a student at the school 1961 (also member of the Cheering Squad). Photo #19.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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Susan Ramsey and her father, Mr. Lee S. Ramsey (of Vermont Hardware Co.) of Burlington. Photo appears in Burlington High School yearbook 1955, Oread, p. 139.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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Uniformed (Catholic?) high school girls eat a meal at small cafeteria type lunch tables. High curtained windows are seen as well as a hard wood floor.