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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- Portraits, families, unidentified
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A man, woman and four teen and school age children stand near a table laid out with china dinnerware. The boys wear suit jackets as does the man. The woman and young lady are nicely attired in dresses.
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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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A cast of actresses gather near the stage set for a production. Location Mount St Mary's Academy in Burlington, Vermont.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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Church Youth Choir. Photo #1.
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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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Church Youth Choir.Unidentified and undated. Photo #2.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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A small group of young women gather in a common room lounging area. A TV is in one corner. The girls read or entertain themselves with two large plush stuffed animals.
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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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A large group of young people along with a few older adults gather at a rustic restaurant(?). A uniformed office stands to the far left.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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A large group of women graduates pose for a group portrait. They wear graduation robes and hold rolled diplomas. Some of the ladies also appear with a smaller group of women in mcalA15F07i05. Mount St. Mary's?
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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Church Youth Choir. Unidentified and undated. Photo #1
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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1957 photo of a young woman placing a crown on the Virgin Mary statue in the Sacred Heart Chapel at Mount St. Mary's, Burlington, Vermont as part of a religious ceremony, May Crowning. Stain glass window identified as "Gift of League of Sacred Heart." Photo #7.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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A large group of young people along with a few older adults gather at a rustic restaurant(?) for a special meal and event.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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A large group of young people along with a few older adults gather at a rustic restaurant(?) for a special meal and event.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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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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Six male and five female graduates are assembled outside for a group graduation photo. They wear cap and grown with the tassel on the left side. They do not hold any diplomas.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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1940 graduating class group portrait. The men are dressed in suit and tie. The women in solid light colored dresses. They all carry their diplomas. Baskets of flowers are displayed in the front.
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- 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).
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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A large group of women graduates pose for a group portrait. They wear graduation robes and hold rolled diplomas. Some of the ladies also appear with a smaller group of women in mcalA15F07i05. Mount St. Mary's?