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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- Automobiles - Sales and Service (Q-Z)
- Description
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1951 photo of two Yandow Motor Company employees. Located at 11-15 So. Winooski Ave., Burlington, Vt.
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- Burlington - Street Views
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1945/1946 view of Church Street showing store fronts. Currier's women's clothes at 66 Church ; Fanny Farmer Candy at 68 Church.
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- Burlington - Street Views
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1948 photo of Church Street, Burlington, Vermont showing store fronts and the empty space between F. J. Preston & Son jewelers and Singer Sewing machine store. Empty space was one time location of the Cheerio Grill, a restaurant.
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- Burlington - Street Views
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Church Street store fronts from left to right: 25-27 People's Dept store 23 Singer Sewing Machine Co. 21 used to be Cheerio Grill, a restaurant (vacant) 17 F J Preston jewelers
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- Burlington - Street Views
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1945/1946 St. Paul Street, Burlington, Vermont showing store fronts. Extreme left is the Burlington Rapid Transit Company bus terminal at 137 St. Paul Street, a pool room, Sherwin Electric at 129, Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company at 123-125.
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- Burlington - Street Views
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1946/1947 Church Street, Burlington, Vermont showing store fronts. Left to right Thom McAn shoes at 61 Church, Stein Clothes at 59 1/2 Church with Bertha Church above, Kinney shoes at 57 Church, Kresge department store at 49-55 Church.
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- Burlington - Street Views
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1945 College Street in Burlington, Vermont showing store fronts. From left to right is Sherwin Willimas Paints (152 College), Agel-Corman Furniture (158 College), Bishop's Dry Cleaning (160 College). Extreme left is edge of Burlington Savings Bank (148-150 College).
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- Burlington High School Groups
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A photo appearing in the advertisement section of the 1954 Burlington High School yearbook Oread (p. 118) of "Mr. Germain of Childs & Germain, specialists in floor coverings, drapes, slip covers, venetian blinds, shows his daughter Kathy (BHS'54) one of their attractive rugs."
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Cherry Street (4X5)
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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View of newly paved Cherry Street in Burlington looking west from South Winooski Avenue. Wooden clapboard, brick buildings and retail stores line the street. The New Sherwood Hotel is the tall building in the background on the right. The taller spire in background may be the Cathedral School on...
Show moreView of newly paved Cherry Street in Burlington looking west from South Winooski Avenue. Wooden clapboard, brick buildings and retail stores line the street. The New Sherwood Hotel is the tall building in the background on the right. The taller spire in background may be the Cathedral School on the southwest corner of St. Paul and Cherry Streets. Automobiles are parked on both sides. Possibly taken in the 1920s - 1930s.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Church St. (4X5)
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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Winter street scene with snow removal crew leaning on their shovels next to a truck filled with snow. Retail stores seen behind the truck. Stores signs advertise (left to right) furnishings, Reuss optometrist, Postal Telegraph Cable Co., Travelers Inn Rooms $1.00 at 106 1/2 Church Street. Windows...
Show moreWinter street scene with snow removal crew leaning on their shovels next to a truck filled with snow. Retail stores seen behind the truck. Stores signs advertise (left to right) furnishings, Reuss optometrist, Postal Telegraph Cable Co., Travelers Inn Rooms $1.00 at 106 1/2 Church Street. Windows in the second story bear signs for typewriters, supplies and repair services. Possible date 1930s, 1940s.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Church St. (4X5)
- Date Created
- 1943-06-25
- Description
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June 25, 1943. Trolley track rail removal project. Church Street retail stores seen to the right include Hayes and Carney Men's Clothes, Western Union office, City Hall (distant right), mansard roof building (center) on Main Street that once served as place of worship for First Baptist Church...
Show moreJune 25, 1943. Trolley track rail removal project. Church Street retail stores seen to the right include Hayes and Carney Men's Clothes, Western Union office, City Hall (distant right), mansard roof building (center) on Main Street that once served as place of worship for First Baptist Church from the 1840s to 1864.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Church St. (4X5)
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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View of Church Street after a winter snowstorm looking north toward the Unitarian Church. Snow is being shoveled by hand and loaded onto trucks. The trolley tracks can still be seen running down the middle of the street. On the right the sign for a hardware retail store can be seen. Possibly the...
Show moreView of Church Street after a winter snowstorm looking north toward the Unitarian Church. Snow is being shoveled by hand and loaded onto trucks. The trolley tracks can still be seen running down the middle of the street. On the right the sign for a hardware retail store can be seen. Possibly the 1930s or 1940s.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Church St. (4X5)
- Date Created
- undated
- Description
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View of Church Street from a roof top looking north toward the head of the street and the Unitarian Church. Retail sign attached to building center left reads "Geo A Churchill Druggist, We excel in service at our Soda Fountain". Just below it closer to foreground is "101 Ranch Wild West". The top...
Show moreView of Church Street from a roof top looking north toward the head of the street and the Unitarian Church. Retail sign attached to building center left reads "Geo A Churchill Druggist, We excel in service at our Soda Fountain". Just below it closer to foreground is "101 Ranch Wild West". The top of the New Sherwood Hotel can still be seen in the distance (left). On the right vertical "Hardware" sign. Automobiles line both sides of the street.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Church Street
- Description
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Salvage Project Photo dates June 25, 1943 Trolley Track Rail Removal Project, Burlington, Vermont. This view shows Church Street in front of the Police Station showing the rail puller pulling the rail in front of the City Hall while the trench is being cleaned ready for replacing the concrete in...
Show moreSalvage Project Photo dates June 25, 1943 Trolley Track Rail Removal Project, Burlington, Vermont. This view shows Church Street in front of the Police Station showing the rail puller pulling the rail in front of the City Hall while the trench is being cleaned ready for replacing the concrete in front of the Police Station entrance and the concrete being replaced in the foreground. The concrete was mixed at the Municipal Asphalt Plant with the Asphalt Pub-mill mixer and hauled to the job in trucks where it was shoveled into the trenches as seen in the picture. View looks south toward Main Street. Signs for retail stores seen on the left include those for Grover's Radio Shop, a bakery and Howe's Market. Name of McAllister's studio embossed in lower right.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Church Street
- Description
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Burlington Street Department Snow Removal Methods & Equipment This view of Church Street looking south from the intersection of Pearl Street showing the effect of the clear Rock Salt applied to the pavement the previous day. Note the entire absence of snow in the traveled portion of the street,...
Show moreBurlington Street Department Snow Removal Methods & Equipment This view of Church Street looking south from the intersection of Pearl Street showing the effect of the clear Rock Salt applied to the pavement the previous day. Note the entire absence of snow in the traveled portion of the street, thus elminating the necessity of applying sand for traction purposes. Although the pavement is wet with the salt brine formed from the melting snow it does not create a slippery condition because the tires seem to grip the pavement as the frost is removed from the surface. Retail stores and parked cars line the street. Abernethy Clarkson Wright building is left foreground.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Church Street
- Description
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Rail Removal Project, Burlington, Vt. Date on photo June 25, 1943. This view shows the process of removing the trolley car tracks on Church Street where they were embedded in reinforced concrete. An auxiliary air tank was used to supply additional compressed air for operating the paving breakers...
Show moreRail Removal Project, Burlington, Vt. Date on photo June 25, 1943. This view shows the process of removing the trolley car tracks on Church Street where they were embedded in reinforced concrete. An auxiliary air tank was used to supply additional compressed air for operating the paving breakers in loosening the cement around the rails. This picture was taken on the last day of this project. Construction workers seen. To the left is Burlington City Hall; just beyond is the Fire Station. On the right are retail stores that include Ellsworth jewelry, Star Restaurant American and Chinese (144 Church St.)
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Church Street
- Description
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June 25, 1943. Rail Removal Project, Burlington, Vermont. This view looks down Church Street (south) from the intersection of Pearl Street after all trolley rails had been removed and the trenches repaved and opened to traffic. On the left is the Abernethy Clarkson Wright building, on the right...
Show moreJune 25, 1943. Rail Removal Project, Burlington, Vermont. This view looks down Church Street (south) from the intersection of Pearl Street after all trolley rails had been removed and the trenches repaved and opened to traffic. On the left is the Abernethy Clarkson Wright building, on the right Masonic Temple then housing a drug store, Simpson's Fur and Luggage. Sign for Preston's jewelers and Sears department store can be seen further down on the right. Traffic light seen in foreground center of the photo.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Church Street
- Description
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December 3, 1936 View of upper Church Street while Street Department was removing snow after the 13 inch storm of previous night. The trucks are being loaded by hand. Photo published in Images of America Burlington on the front and back covers. Retail store signs including Preston's jewelers,...
Show moreDecember 3, 1936 View of upper Church Street while Street Department was removing snow after the 13 inch storm of previous night. The trucks are being loaded by hand. Photo published in Images of America Burlington on the front and back covers. Retail store signs including Preston's jewelers, Carl's Dinette, drug store can be seen. The church of the First Unitarian Univeralist Society with clock in center background.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Church Street
- Description
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View of Church Street looking south from the intersection of Pearl and Church. Trolley tracks run the length of the street (not used after 1929). Trolley lines faintly seen strung above. The old Abernethy Clarkson Wright building is on the left in foreground, retail store signs can be seen, on...
Show moreView of Church Street looking south from the intersection of Pearl and Church. Trolley tracks run the length of the street (not used after 1929). Trolley lines faintly seen strung above. The old Abernethy Clarkson Wright building is on the left in foreground, retail store signs can be seen, on the right a sign for the New Sherwood Hotel.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Church Street
- Description
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Church Street looking north from Bank Street toward the Unitarian Church, Burlington, Vermont - July, 1931. Trolley tracks can be seen running the length of the road but no overhead lines (not used since 1929). To the left foreground is Beebe Pharmacy at 75 Church (Mason Gaylord Beebe?) in the...
Show moreChurch Street looking north from Bank Street toward the Unitarian Church, Burlington, Vermont - July, 1931. Trolley tracks can be seen running the length of the road but no overhead lines (not used since 1929). To the left foreground is Beebe Pharmacy at 75 Church (Mason Gaylord Beebe?) in the Lambert building. Beebe will become Kelley's Pharmacy. Other retail stores seen. New Sherwood Hotel seen further up the street. Hotel burned in 1937. Name of McAllister's studio embossed in lower right along with type print label "Store No. 397 Burlington, Vt."
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