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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Ca. 1945 indoor photo of more family members related to those seen in mcalB14F25i01-mcalB14F25i03.
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Ca. 1946 indoor photo of a young boy, his parents, and grandparents. Religious artifacts on the wall indicate a Catholic household.
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Ca. 1945 indoor photo of "grandfather" seen in mcalB14F19i09, and possibly his wife (?). On far right, one can see the feet of the elderly lady in mcalB14F19i09.
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1952 indoor photo of same man seen with infant and elderly lady in mcalB15F05i03, here seen apparently with wife and 2 sons.
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1948 family portrait photo taken in their home with Christmas tree in background. See also mcalB14F05i07 for the young girl in same setting holding a cat.
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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. Duplicate image of mcalA15F02i31
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- Portraits - Family
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1951 or 1952 family portrait photo of a husband and wife with their three sons and one daughter gathered in an elegantly furnished living room.
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1945 indoor photo of same couple in mcalB14F22i08. High button shoes.
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- Portraits - Family
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1945 indoor photo of women and girls all seated on a sofa. One woman holds a composition head baby doll.
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- Portraits - Family
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1944 indoor photo of family at Christmas. Probable: Husband and wife (standing), with daughter or daughter-in-law (seated), who is married to serviceman in the portrait next to the tree.
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- Portraits - Family
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1945 indoor photo of an elderly couple, perhaps on the occasion of a milestone wedding anniversary seated on a velvet upholstered sofa.
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- Portraits - Family
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1952 indoor photo of family seen in mcalB15F05i09. Calendar on the wall displays March 1952. Singer sewing machine on the left. The younger boy wears a leg brace.
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1949 portrait photo of an older mature husband and wife seated in their home with various flowers arranged.
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- Portraits - Family
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Ca. 1945 outdoor photo of a mother and her 5 children, including twin girls. (Duplicate of mcalB14F19i08)
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1945 indoor photo of multi generational family, including a framed photo of a service man in the family who was unable to join them for the portrait. One man is in the Navy.
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1951 family portrait photo gathered in front of the Christmas tree with presents of bedroom lamps, toys. Same family as seen in mcalB14F06i06, mcalB15F03i19, mcalB15F04i08 and mcalB15F04i09
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- Portraits - Family
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1945 indoor photo of 4 young children (two boys and two girls) and their grandparents. Photo #3.
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- Portraits - Family
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1945 outdoor photo of mother (seated) and four daughters (see mcalB14F20i05).
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- Portraits - Family
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1949 or 1950 multi generational family portrait photo in living room with Christmas tree. A mask face clown doll sits on the floor to the far left.
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- Portraits - Family
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1945 outdoor photo of four young mothers holding their children. The Baby boom begins... Photo #2.