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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- Burlington Airport
- Description
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October 12, 1937 photo of the back side of the wooden hangar during construction at the Burlington Vermont Municipal Airport. Possibly rolls of black sheeting (construction material) seen grouped together next to wheeled hand cart.
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- Burlington Airport
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View of the construction of the hangar at the Burlington Municipal Airport in a dated photo June 29, 1937. Solid wooden covering up the timber framework. McAllister's embossed name seen in the lower right just above the handwritten date.
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- Burlington Airport
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Dated photo June 29, 1937 of the construction of the hangar at the Burlington Municipal Airport. Propeller driven airplane sits near the building. United States civil aircraft registration identification marking on wing "NC-978-W"
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- Burlington Airport
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September 7, 1937 photo of the front side of the wooden hangar during construction at the Burlington Vermont Municipal Airport. Piles of fill can be seen along with construction machinery and supplies. McAllister's name embossed in the lower right just above date.
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- Burlington Airport
- Description
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Early stage of construction of the wooden hangar at the Burlington Vermont Municipal Airport. Probably early summer (June) 1937. Two workers seen seated atop of open framework. Other workers to the extreme right near timber supports. Embossed McAllister name in lower right.
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- Burlington Airport
- Description
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This 1935 photo shows a utility vehicle with driver applying seal coat on taxi strip at Burlington Municipal Airport using 1/4 gallon per square yard of Colas Quick Breaking Emulsion and sanding lightly. Hangar in the background. Date handwritten in bottom right corner "Nov. 1, 1935."
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- Burlington Airport
- Description
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November 14, 1939. WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project No. 65-1-12-43. View of extension of north-south runway looking northerly from the north end of the old hard surface section. The crushed stone armor coat in the foreground is nearly ready for the first application of Bitumuls HX quick...
Show moreNovember 14, 1939. WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project No. 65-1-12-43. View of extension of north-south runway looking northerly from the north end of the old hard surface section. The crushed stone armor coat in the foreground is nearly ready for the first application of Bitumuls HX quick break emulsion. Work is being carried on preparing the turning area at the extreme north end. This extension is 1,250 feet in length and 100 feet in width. The stone in the foreground has been placed for approximately 650 lineal feet. Hand "spotting" is being done on small areas to insure as near a perfect grade as possible using the stock pile shown at the right in the picture, with rubber tired wheelbarrows for transporting the stone over the surface.
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- Title
- Burlington Airport
- Description
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July 27, 1937 photo of back side of the wooden hangar being constructed at the Burlington Municipal Airport in Burlington, Vermont. Open framework in upper story.
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- Burlington Airport
- Description
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City of Burlington, Vermont - Municipal Airport Photo dated Sept 12, 1944. McAllister's name embossed in lower right just above date. This view shows the Administration Building in center with metal hangar to the right and traffic control tower to the left as seen from the parking area just...
Show moreCity of Burlington, Vermont - Municipal Airport Photo dated Sept 12, 1944. McAllister's name embossed in lower right just above date. This view shows the Administration Building in center with metal hangar to the right and traffic control tower to the left as seen from the parking area just westerly of the entrance gate before removing the metal hangar and starting construction work on the north wing.
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- Title
- Burlington Airport
- Description
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This view shows the new wooden Hangar as it appeared about June 1, 1937 after the concrete foundations had been completed and the timber structure started. McAllister embossed name seen in the lower right.
- Title
- Burlington Airport
- Description
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June 19, 1941. Burlington Municipal Airport, WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project. This view shows the fill being made along the southerly boundary line of the east-west runway area. Note the hangar and Administration Building directly to the west in the background of the picture, also the...
Show moreJune 19, 1941. Burlington Municipal Airport, WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project. This view shows the fill being made along the southerly boundary line of the east-west runway area. Note the hangar and Administration Building directly to the west in the background of the picture, also the boundary fence in the left foreground at the front of the slope. Several thousand cubic yards of filling was dumped in this area using materials excavated from the runway areas and other areas being cleared of small pines and scrub growth. This filling could not be used for any areas within the paved section because of the great amount of roots and stumps but was satisfactory for straightening the line on this area which would not be used for landing purposes and helped to eliminate a hazardous condition. The filling of this area will also assist in straightening the boundary lights when they are permanently installed. Dump truck seen in upper right corner.
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- Title
- Burlington Airport
- Description
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June 12, 1935. Photo #3. Caption on this 1935 photo reads "#3 Burlington Vt. 6-12-35 Proj. # 402-B15-1 VERA (Vermont Emergency Relief Administration) Burlington Municipal Airport - West Section of E + W Runway showing excavated material on either side being loaded with power shovel and used for...
Show moreJune 12, 1935. Photo #3. Caption on this 1935 photo reads "#3 Burlington Vt. 6-12-35 Proj. # 402-B15-1 VERA (Vermont Emergency Relief Administration) Burlington Municipal Airport - West Section of E + W Runway showing excavated material on either side being loaded with power shovel and used for grading also drainage system being installed and crushed stone being placed on sand subbase(?) for stabilization work with Asphalt Emulsion."
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- Title
- Burlington Airport
- Description
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June 20, 1935. Photo #4. Caption on this 1935 photo reads "#4 Burlington Vt. 6-20-35 VERA (Vermont Emergency Relief Administration) Proj. #402-B15-1 Burlington Municipal Airport - Grading of west end of E. + W. Runway."
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- Burlington Airport
- Description
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Construction project at the Burlington Municipal Airport (to become Burlington International Airport). This view shows the Hangar as it appeared on June 8, 1937, with a lean-to nearly completed and the timber work constructed to the level of the eaves.
- Title
- Burlington Airport
- Description
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July 27, 1937 photo of wooden hangar at the Burlington Vermont Municipal Airport showing open framework in upper story.
- Title
- Burlington Airport
- Description
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August 24, 1937 photo of the back side of the wooden hangar during construction at the Burlington Vermont Municipal Airport. A lone construction work stands atop the roof. The door well is open. Various barrels and other equipment are seen.
- Title
- Burlington Airport
- Description
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July 11, 1941. Burlington Municipal Airport, WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project. This view is taken from the northerly edge of the east-west runway area directly in line with the centerline stakes of the diagonal runway looking northwesterly. The small pine trees have nearly all been cut...
Show moreJuly 11, 1941. Burlington Municipal Airport, WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project. This view is taken from the northerly edge of the east-west runway area directly in line with the centerline stakes of the diagonal runway looking northwesterly. The small pine trees have nearly all been cut with the exception of a small group which can be seen in the left background of the picture on this date and for a distance of approximately 250 feet to the right of the hard surface shoulder of the proposed paved runway. The WPA construction shacks can be seen in the right background while the power shovel and trucks are working at a point near the intersection of the northerly end of the north-south runway.
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- Title
- Burlington Airport
- Description
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June 20, 1935. Photo #7. Caption on photo reads "#7 Burlington Vt 6-20-35 VERA (Vermont Emergency Relief Administration) Proj. #402-B151 Burlington Municipal Airport - Tractor and spring tooth horrows mixing dry aggregate prior to application of Bitumuls. Shows workmen and tractor with operator.
- Title
- Burlington Airport
- Description
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July 27, 1934. V.E.R.A PROJECT. A view of the approach to hangar and administration building looking westerly from the north-south runway. This was taken preparatory to the grading of this area. Caption on this 1934 photo of the Burlington Municipal Airport reads "#3A 7-27-34 Approach or Taxi...
Show moreJuly 27, 1934. V.E.R.A PROJECT. A view of the approach to hangar and administration building looking westerly from the north-south runway. This was taken preparatory to the grading of this area. Caption on this 1934 photo of the Burlington Municipal Airport reads "#3A 7-27-34 Approach or Taxi Strip before grading work had started." Arched sign above the hangar reads "Municipal Airport."
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- Title
- Burlington Airport
- Description
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June 12, 1935. Photo #5. Caption on this 1935 photo reads "#5 Burlington Vt 6-12-35 VERA (Vermont Emergency Relief Administration) Proj #402-B15-1 Burlington Municipal Airport - General view of east end of E + W Runway, drainage ditch on the right." Concrete slabs are arranged in a horizontal...
Show moreJune 12, 1935. Photo #5. Caption on this 1935 photo reads "#5 Burlington Vt 6-12-35 VERA (Vermont Emergency Relief Administration) Proj #402-B15-1 Burlington Municipal Airport - General view of east end of E + W Runway, drainage ditch on the right." Concrete slabs are arranged in a horizontal line across the lower central portion of photo.
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