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
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Pine St (4X5's)
- Description
-
March 1, 1934. South End Sewer Project. Docket No. 2353 Burlington, Vermont. Men work after a heavy snowfall.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Pine St.
- Description
-
September 18, 1942. Pine Street sewer project between Morse Place and Home Ave. This view shows the sewer trench with 10 inch tile installed from Morse Place to a point about mid-way of the block. The excavation the foreground is for the construction of the manhole at station 250 from the...
Show moreSeptember 18, 1942. Pine Street sewer project between Morse Place and Home Ave. This view shows the sewer trench with 10 inch tile installed from Morse Place to a point about mid-way of the block. The excavation the foreground is for the construction of the manhole at station 250 from the intersection of Home Ave. Note that sand filling is used for a cushion under the tile and for backfilling around the tile and for a depth of approximately one foot over the tile. This project is being done under our regular sewer appropriation. A trench hoe was used for digging the trench which was in clay and very tough hard-pan with numerous large boulders which had to be drilled and blasted. No solid rock was encountered.
Show less
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Proctor Place
- Description
-
June 13, 1935. Burlington, VT. V.E.R.A. Project No. 402-B7-15. Proctor Place sewer from Wright Ave. ravine sewer. Workmen stand above the ditch while others work in it.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Prospect Street
- Description
-
February 13, 1935. V.E.R.A. (Vermont Emergency Relief Administration) Sewer Project looking north on Prospect Street. Excavation is through about 5 ft. of frost at this location.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Prospect Street
- Description
-
January 23, 1935. In front of Dr. Marshall C. Twitchell's residence at 603 South Prospect Street. Note the solid rock which has been uncovered ready for drilling and blasting during sewer / road construction project.