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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- 4-H Club
- Description
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1951/1952 Fall-Spring 4-H Club members gathered on the steps in front of Waterman Building, University of Vermont.
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- 4-H Club
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1951/1952 Fall-Spring 4-H Club members gathered on the steps in front of Waterman Building, University of Vermont.
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- Art - Misc. Paintings
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Photo of a painting depicting the half length portrait of a young woman done in a classic portraiture style. Looks to be unframed. Date photo taken 1936 - 1945.
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- Art - Misc. Paintings
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Photo of a painting of a young nude woman seated among grasses and flowers holding a scarf over her head as the wind catches it. Summer, Fall, Winter
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- Art - Misc. Paintings
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Photo of a close up of the head of an illustration of a painting portraying a young smiling woman and holding a tambourine above her head. Date photo was taken 1936/1945. See also mcalB01F10i07 for the full length version.
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- Art - Misc. Paintings
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Photo of a full length portrait of a young woman dancer holding a tambourine above her head. Her voluminous skirt billows. Painting is signed. See also Art - Misc. Paintings mcalB01F10i03 for a close up of the head. Summer-Fall-Winter
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- Bluebirds
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1953 Bluebirds ceremony with two dozen girls in dress uniform in attendance. Several adults stand in the back including a priest. Photo #1.
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- Bluebirds
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1957/58 A troop of girls belonging to the Blue Birds (Camp Fire Girls) stands and kneels with a framed poster. The girls are in uniform, some complete with beanie caps with blue bird emblem. Troop leader stands in back. See also mcalA14F16i12 under Portraits, children, unidentified
- Title
- Bluebirds
- Description
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1953 Bluebirds ceremony with two dozen girls in dress uniform in attendance. Several adults stand in the back including a priest. Photo #2.
- Title
- Bluebirds
- Description
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1957-58 A troop of girls belonging to the Blue Birds (Camp Fire Girls) stands and kneels with a framed poster. The girls are in uniform, some complete with beanie caps with blue bird emblem. Troop leader stands in back. See also mcalA14F16i12 under Portraits, children, unidentified
- Title
- Bristol School -Class Pictures [Prints]
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1945 Bristol School class photo in front of the old high school, Bristol, Vermont. Photo #26.
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- Bristol School -Class Pictures [Prints]
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1945 class picture at Bristol School in front of the old high school. Photo #31.
- Title
- Burlington Business College
- Description
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Classroom setting with women students at the Burlington Business College in 1942. They sit two at a shared wooden desk aligned in rows.
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- Burlington Business College
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1942 Burlington Business College Christmas party with Santa Claus attending. One woman holds a large doll.
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- Burlington Business College
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1942 Burlington Business College women's basketball team.
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- Burlington Business College
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Burlington Business College students gather as members of the Kappa Theta Greek fraternity for women. Dated 1942.
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- Burlington Business College
- Description
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1942. Women college students of the Burlington Business College celebrate Christmas and receive gifts from Santa Claus. Photo #2.
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- Burlington Business College
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December 1946. Classroom setting with women students of the Burlington Business College sitting at individual wooden desks. Instructor stands at the back holding a book. Photo #6.
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- Burlington Business College
- Description
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Male and female college students are seen in a classroom setting at the Burlington Business College. 1940s? They sit two side by side at shared wooden desks.
- Title
- Burlington Business College
- Description
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1942 Burlington Business College women's basketball team.