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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1945 outdoor photo of young couple and their daughter. Taken in McAllister's driveway at 47 No. Winooski Ave., Burlington.
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1945 outdoor photo of three generations of a family, seen also in mcalB14F18i06 and other photos.
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1958 indoor photo of perhaps four generations of a family. On e of the three mothers has twins on her lap.
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Ca. 1951 indoor photo of the children seen in mcalB15F05i06, this time by themselves in order by height and perhaps age: three boys, one girl.
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1949 or 1950 group portrait of five siblings. Oldest sister holds the youngest child. Photo #2.
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1945 indoor photo of woman and her two children at Christmastime. Several toys are present including a tricycle, Buddy metal truck, stuffed horse, doll and castle, but, alas, father is not.
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1949 or 1950 multi generational family portrait photo taken in a living room with Christmas tree. A mask face clown doll sits on the floor at the far left. Photo #3.
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1949 or 1950 multi generational family portrait photo taken in a living room with Christmas tree. A mask face clown doll sits on the floor at the far left. Photo #2.
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Over exposed and blurry photo of family portrait. Same family as seen in mcalB14F12i06 and mcalB14F12i07. Grandmother sits front center. Photo #3.
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1949-1950 family portrait gathered in a living room. Same family as seen in mcalB14F12i06 and mcalB14F12i07. Grandmother sits front center.
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Ca. 1945 outdoor photo of family with twin girls.
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1945 outdoor photo of family standing on well platform (with water pump) and dog seen in mcalB14F21i09.
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A multi generation family photo taken outside a brick building. A mother and her two daughters wear matching dresses. Two other mothers hold their infants in their laps while the fathers stand behind. Grandparents are seated in front with one young girl. See also mcalA15F03i11, mcalB15F08i06 for...
Show moreA multi generation family photo taken outside a brick building. A mother and her two daughters wear matching dresses. Two other mothers hold their infants in their laps while the fathers stand behind. Grandparents are seated in front with one young girl. See also mcalA15F03i11, mcalB15F08i06 for the same family. Dated 1957-1958.
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1944 photo of multi-generational family, taken outdoors in winter at McAllister's home at 47 No. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Two men are in uniform.
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1944 outdoor photo of a large family, with three generations present. Two men are in the armed services.
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1944 outdoor photo of husband, wife, two sons (twins?) and a daughter who holds a mask face cloth doll.
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1945 outdoor photo of large family, with three generations present and two service men. This photo brings together the people seen in mcalB14F18i05 and mcalB14F18i06.
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1945 outdoor photo of couple and young daughter.
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1945 indoor photo of four very excited children and their mother at Christmas time. A portrait of their father, very likely, is on the fireplace mantel (left) where stockings are hung. The girls each hold a doll, the little boy in a sailor suit may be holding a toy piano. Just visible to the left...
Show more1945 indoor photo of four very excited children and their mother at Christmas time. A portrait of their father, very likely, is on the fireplace mantel (left) where stockings are hung. The girls each hold a doll, the little boy in a sailor suit may be holding a toy piano. Just visible to the left are tinker toys.
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1945 outdoor photo of couple and young daughter. Husband is seen with siblings in mcalB14F18i05.