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
Pages
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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Four young children pose for a group portrait. Two girls stand, a younger girl in on a wooden rocking horse and a young boy is seated in a child's rocking chair. Photo #2. See also mcalA14F15i16
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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Seven very young children are assembled on a living room couch for a group portrait. They each hold a toy and the little boy on the far left holds a real calico kitten. See also mcalA14F15i18, mcalA14F15i20 and mcalA14F16i33
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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Two very young children seated in an overstuffed chair. A woman (perhaps Mom) seen to the far left. Lower left corner of photo labeled Store No. 397 Burlington, Vermont.
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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Four children pose by their Christmas tree in the living room of their home. The two children seated on the floor each hold a toy; a metal spinning top and a doll. The boy standing in the back holds the family dog and the older girl proudly wears her "poodle" skirt with Scottie. See also...
Show moreFour children pose by their Christmas tree in the living room of their home. The two children seated on the floor each hold a toy; a metal spinning top and a doll. The boy standing in the back holds the family dog and the older girl proudly wears her "poodle" skirt with Scottie. See also mcalB14F10i03
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- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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Two young children seated in an upholstered chair. The older child sits on the arm of the chair while the younger baby sits leaning in the corner of the chair against her older sister. The baby wears a crocheted sweater and matching booties.
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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A slightly out of focus photo of two young children seated upon an upholstered stool each dressed in a German / Austrian / Tyrolian type outfit without the hat on the boy. Photo #3. A golden retriever dog lays in front. A fireplace is seen behind. See also mcalA14F16i06 and mcalA14F16i08
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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A man, woman and two daughters gather on a sofa for a portrait. Photo #4. See the same family members in mcalA15F03i03 and i04
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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A man and woman gather near a Christmas tree in their home with a young boy and girl. Christmas gifts are displayed beneath the tree. They include a chemistry outfit and a model train set. The girl holds a doll. See also mcalA15F03i01 for an earlier Christmas photo.
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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A multi generation family gather around the sofa in a well furnished home for a portrait. See the same family also in mcalA15F03i03
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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Members of McAllister's family sit on a sofa. The older woman to the left is Mrs. Raymond, the mother of the young lady in the Scottish tarten. The younger is McAllister's grand niece, Joanne Raymond. The young woman on the right is unidentified. A collie dog rests at their feet.
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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A man and woman sit together for a portrait in what may be their home's living room. She sits in an upholstered chair. He sits on the arm of the chair. A television set is seen behind. See also the same setting with a younger couple and child.
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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A multi generation family gather around the sofa in a well furnished home for a portrait. See the same family also in mcalA15F03i04
- Title
- Portraits, families, unidentified
- Description
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A multi generation family portrait. The man and woman seated in the back may be the parents of the young boy and infant twins. The two older women may be grandmothers. They all sit in a living room setting with upholstered furniture. See same family in mcalA15F02i19
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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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.
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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Ten young women relax in a common room lounging area reading magazines. A large portrait painting of a woman hangs on the wall.
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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A clergyman stands center surrounded by several older women dressed in evening gowns adorned with corsages. They all gather around a table covered with an elegant crocheted table cloth and set with what appears to be a silver tea / coffee service. A stage is seen behind.
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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Eight older women gather in a corner of a room for a group portrait. Room contains living room type furniture. Could this be a Bible study class?
- Title
- Portraits, individuals, unidentified
- Description
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A mature woman sits at a drop leaf table with a silver tea and coffee set. A pine corner cupboard displays more silver items such as bowls, and platters. A family photo is also seen on the upper shelf of the cupboard. Photo #4. 1959, see mcalB16F17i06 for same dated photo.
- Title
- Portraits, individuals, unidentified
- Description
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This is a very dark printing of a photo a young woman playing the piano. This looks to be a double exposure or print as the woman is also seen looking up in the lower half of the image.
- Title
- Stores - Interiors - Unidentified
- Date Created
- 1944
- Description
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Blanket and Drapery Shop. Also, some tableware on the lower shelves.