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
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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An outdoor group portrait of an unidentified man and woman with eight children as they stand in front of a wood frame clapboard house. Three children kneel on a toboggan. Same family group also seen in mcalA09F12i34, mcalA15F02i30, i31, i32, i33, i35
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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The whole family is seen in this multi-generation photo as they assemble outside for a group portrait. See also mcalA15F03i13, i14, and i15
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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A man and woman sit in front of a Christmas tree in their home with a young boy and girl. Christmas gifts are displayed behind them. They include a doll's baby carriage, snow shovels, an archery set and more. The girl holds a doll.
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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A group portrait of men, women and several young children and an infant. Two sets of young girls are in matching outfits. See also the same setting mcalA15F02i25 with what appears to be a wedding anniversary party with guests of honor standing in the center.
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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A multi generation family portrait. The man and woman seated in the back may be the parents of the young boy and infant twins. The two older women may be grandmothers. They all sit in a living room setting with upholstered furniture. See same family in mcalA15F02i19
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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Group family portrait with parents and their nine children standing outside their home. See also mcalA15F02i02 and mcalA14F16i04
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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A multi generation family assemble outside near the front porch for a group photo. A mother holds an infant. An American flag hangs from the porch.
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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A multi generation family photo with young mothers holding their sons and daughters. Infant twins among the children present. See also mcalA15F02i27
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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A gymnasium type room is filled with uniformed soldiers in the balcony and a large group of costumed men, women and children at what looks like a masquerade party.
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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A large multi-generation family gathers outside in an open field area.
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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A Christmas party seems to be in progress. Men, women and children are seen along with a Christmas tree in the background and Santa Claus near left side of the photo. Event could be sponsored by the Rotary or some other local business or agency. Location may be Memorial Auditorium. Undated but...
Show moreA Christmas party seems to be in progress. Men, women and children are seen along with a Christmas tree in the background and Santa Claus near left side of the photo. Event could be sponsored by the Rotary or some other local business or agency. Location may be Memorial Auditorium. Undated but may be 1920s or later.
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- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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Children's church choir.
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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Children's church choir. Unidentified and undated. Photo #1.
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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Children's church choir in the sanctuary of the First Congregational Church in Burlington, Vermont. Photo #11.
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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Church children's choir of the First Congregational Church in Burlington, Vermont. Undated.
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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A Christmas party seems to be in progress. Here a young boy carrying items in his hands walks past tables lined up with adults and Santa Claus on the other side. Other men, women and children are seen along with a Christmas tree in the background. Event could be sponsored by the Rotary or some...
Show moreA Christmas party seems to be in progress. Here a young boy carrying items in his hands walks past tables lined up with adults and Santa Claus on the other side. Other men, women and children are seen along with a Christmas tree in the background. Event could be sponsored by the Rotary or some other local business or agency. Location may be Memorial Auditorium. Undated but may be 1920s or later.
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- Title
- Queen City Park, So. Burlington
- Description
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Children and adults enjoy the beach along the shores of Lake Champlain at Queen City Park in South Burlington, Vermont.
- Title
- Saint Paul's Episcopal Church
- Date Created
- 1935-1936
- Description
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1935 or 1936 photo of members of Saint Paul's Episcopal Church (i.e. Cathedral Church of St. Paul) in Burlington, Vt.
- Title
- Salvation Army
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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Undated family portrait of an unidentified man and woman of the Salvation Army and five children. This is an uncropped version of other similar photos. See also mcalA09F12i35, mcalA15F02i07, mcalA16F01i32.
- Title
- Salvation Army
- Date Created
- 1950
- Description
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1950 group photo of one man, several women and children at the Salvation Army. The children hold rolled certificates. Large portrait painting of "General" William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, on the wall behind. (See the portrait of Booth at: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph...
Show more1950 group photo of one man, several women and children at the Salvation Army. The children hold rolled certificates. Large portrait painting of "General" William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, on the wall behind. (See the portrait of Booth at: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3b39560/) Burlington's mission was once at 117 Cherry Street.
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