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
Show less
Related Archival Collection
Pages
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1944 indoor photo of couple relaxing at home. Many interesting details in decoration, fashion, and also the newspaper headlines.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1950 family portrait photo of a husband, wife and infant gathered in their living room with Christmas tree. Same baby as seen in mcalB14F05i11. See also mcalB15F04i08.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1945 outdoor photo of an elderly couple. aken in the driveway on the side of McAllister's home at 47 No. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Garden trellis in the background. See also mcalB14F18i01
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1951 indoor photo of three children with their parents, Grandfather and family dog in front of their Christmas tree. A Santa Claus wall hanging decoration seen behind. See also mcalB14F06i04 for just the children. Photo #2.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1950 multi generational portrait photo of an older man and wife with ten younger adults (their grown children?) gathered outside. A building to the left has a horseshoe on the door. Photo #1.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1945 outdoor photo of family seen in mcalB14F18i07: 2 parents, 3 adult children. Photo #3
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1949 or 1950 group family portrait. They are outdoors on a grassy lawn with trees behind.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1952 indoor photo of same man seen with infant and elderly lady in mcalB15F05i03, here seen apparently with wife and 2 sons.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1945 indoor photo taken at Christmas of a mother holding her child while her son looks ahead with amazement.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1945 indoor photo of a woman and two sailors, very likely a mother and her two sons. A portrait of the sailor on the left can be seen on the wall (right). Same location as mcalB14F22i10 with more family members.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
Ca. 1946 indoor photo of the family in mcalB14F25i09, plus 2 spouses and/or girlfriends added.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1945 outdoor photo of the same men, child, and dog in mcalB14F20i07 but with the addition of three women (sisters, spouses, etc.).
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1949 or 1950 group portrait of four young children and a young woman (oldest sister)
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1945 indoor photo of mother with small children at Christmas. Is father away, in the armed services?
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
Ca. 1957 double print of a large family, taken perhaps in Chittenden county (Vt.), in a suburban neighborhood.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
A man, his wife and two children stand outside their house. The same man appears in mcalA09F12i44 holding a carved wooden chain. He is missing his left hand. Duplicate image of mcalA15F02i13
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1945 indoor photo of parents and their son in the Navy, from the family seen in mcalB14F18i09.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1945 outdoor photo of a mother (far left) and her four daughters. Photo #3.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
Ca. 1946 indoor photo of another subset of the family seen in mcalB14F26i10. This family includes a young priest.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1945 outdoor photo of farm family in front of a garden stand. At least three generations are present. (Has an Ansel Adams look to it.)