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
- Memorial Auditorium, Burlington - Exhibitions
- Description
-
Philco radio exhibition at the Burlington Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vermont showing radio sets for the home.
- Title
- Memorial Auditorium, Burlington - Exhibitions
- Description
-
Marine exhibition at the Burlington Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vermont showing Chris-Craft motor boats and equipment being sold by Champlain Marine Co., Inc.
- Title
- Memorial Auditorium, Burlington - Exhibitions
- Description
-
Tydol Gasoline exhibition at the Burlington Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vermont showing automotive supplies.
- Title
- Memorial Auditorium, Burlington - Exhibitions
- Description
-
Philco radio exhibition at the Burlington Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vermont showing various radio sets for the home. Embossed with McAllister's name lower right corner.
- Title
- Memorial Auditorium, Burlington - Exhibitions
- Description
-
Marine exhibition at the Burlington Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vermont showing motor boats and equipment. Nearby banner reads Vermont Structural Steel Corp. Photo #2.
- Title
- Memorial Auditorium, Burlington - Exhibitions
- Description
-
Frigidaire kitchen appliance exhibition at the Burlington Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vermont showing refrigerators and freezers sold by Strong Hardware of Burlington.
- Title
- Memorial Auditorium, Burlington - Exhibitions
- Description
-
Marine exhibition at the Burlington Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vermont showing Garwood Streamline motor boats and equipment being sold by Edgar Chiott & Son.
- Title
- Musical Ensembles
- Description
-
Adult choral and orchestra groups assembled on stage. Location old Edmunds High School auditorium, Burlington, Vermont. Undated. Photo #1.
- Title
- Musical Ensembles
- Description
-
Burlington High school student band? Group assembled on stage in the auditorium located at the Edmunds High School building in Burlington, Vermont where BHS was held. Event may be All State. Undated. Photo #1?
- Title
- Musical Ensembles
- Description
-
Adult choral and orchestra groups assembled on stage. Location Burlington High School (Edmunds building) auditorium, Burlington, Vermont. Undated. Photo #3.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
Birds eye view of a banquet on the floor of Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vt as seen from the balcony. On the floor men and women are seated at many dining tables. A very long head table is set just in front of the stage. Dated 1949 - 1950. Photo #1.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
Birds eye view of a banquet on the floor of Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vt as seen from the balcony. On the floor men and women are seated at dining tables. Men seated at a very long head table just in front of the stage (only one woman seated the head table). Dated 1949 - 1950. Photo #3.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
Birds eye view of a banquet on the floor of Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vt as seen from the balcony. On the floor men and women are seated at many dining tables. A very long head table is set just in front of the stage. Dated 1949 - 1950. Photo #2.
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
-
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.
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
-
Burlington High School chorus readied for a Christmas concert gather in the BHS (Edmunds) auditorium / gymnasium. They are dressed in the traditional white top, dark skirt/pants. A large banner above and behind them reads "Merry Christmas." Music stands and chairs grouped in the right foreground....
Show moreBurlington High School chorus readied for a Christmas concert gather in the BHS (Edmunds) auditorium / gymnasium. They are dressed in the traditional white top, dark skirt/pants. A large banner above and behind them reads "Merry Christmas." Music stands and chairs grouped in the right foreground. Photo #2.
Show less
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
-
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.
Show less
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
-
A uniformed group of young women carry small American flags and stand on the steps of the Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vermont. The troop's leader wears a different color cap, wears a cape and carries a small baton in her right hand. Undated but may be 1920s, 1930s.
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
-
A uniformed group of young women with a single five point star on their caps carry small American flags and stand on the steps of the Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vermont. The troop's leader wears a different color cap but also carries a flag. Undated but may be 1920s or 1930s.
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
-
Santa Claus and several other men and women display footballs and other toys as they stand behind two long tables. Location may be the Memorial Auditorium in the 1920s or 1930s during a Christmas party probably sponsored by a local organization.
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
-
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.
Show less