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
- UVM - Groups
- Description
-
1945 group photo of a large group of men and women (of all ages) assembled in front of Waterman Building on University of Vermont campus. Reunion? Photo #5.
- Title
- UVM - Medical Staff
- Description
-
1957 group portrait of University of Vermont medical staff. Photo #2.
- Title
- UVM - School of Nursing
- Description
-
1950 portrait photo of nurses from UVM's School of Nursing. Mary Fletcher Hospital staff. Photo #2.
- Title
- UVM Groups
- Description
-
Two groups of men and women assembled on the steps of the west side of Burlington City Hall. All are dressed for cold weather. The group in the foreground looks well-to-do. Three men are wearing military uniforms, so it may date from the early 1940s. The UVM connection is unknown but very likely...
Show moreTwo groups of men and women assembled on the steps of the west side of Burlington City Hall. All are dressed for cold weather. The group in the foreground looks well-to-do. Three men are wearing military uniforms, so it may date from the early 1940s. The UVM connection is unknown but very likely an alumni gathering.
Show less
- Title
- UVM Groups
- Description
-
A large group of men and women (including nuns and one clergyman) assemble on the steps of Billings Library on the University of Vermont campus. This could be a class reunion or perhaps a teachers' conference held at UVM (duplicate of mcalA18F11i08).
- Title
- UVM Groups
- Description
-
Group portrait outside on the steps of John Dewey Hall (UVM College of Medicine). All men except for one woman.
- Title
- UVM Groups
- Description
-
A large group of men and women (including nuns and one clergyman) assemble on the steps of Billings Library on the University of Vermont campus. This could be a class reunion or perhaps a teachers' conference held at UVM.
- Title
- UVM Groups
- Description
-
Large assembly, perhaps a commencement gathering, in the campus gymnasium, which is now the Royall Tyler Theatre (identified by the large arched windows facing south). Event and date of photo unknown, but ladies hat styles have a decidedly late 1920s-early 1930s look.
- Title
- UVM Groups
- Description
-
Large group of men and women in front of 481 Main St., the office then of the Vermont Agricultural Extension Service (now Classics and Religion). A cold day with snow on the ground and everyone in overcoats. Most women have fur collars; most men are wearing fedoras. Occasion, status of group, and...
Show moreLarge group of men and women in front of 481 Main St., the office then of the Vermont Agricultural Extension Service (now Classics and Religion). A cold day with snow on the ground and everyone in overcoats. Most women have fur collars; most men are wearing fedoras. Occasion, status of group, and photo date are unknown.
Show less
- Title
- Vermont Structural Steel Co. - Buildings' Interiors
- Description
-
Ca. 1951 photo of the administrative office at Vt. Structural Steel. Three employees are present but difficult to see because of the under exposure and blurred areas.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
-
A man, member of D.A.V. (Disabled American Veterans) shakes the hand of a woman in recognition. She wears an evening gown and corsage. See also mcalB08F03i01
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
-
Yet another view of Veterans Day (1957) at Battery Park, Burlington, Vt. (see also mcalB21F12i02). Veterans, a color guard plus others in uniform, and children from the neighborhood are present. This photo shows another veteran addressing the crowd.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
-
An older woman receives a pin from another military woman veteran while a third woman stands by. Banner in the background reads "Ladies Auxiliary Howard Plant, Post No. 782, Burlington, Vermont, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States"
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
-
Several girls in uniform wear military caps, white blouses, dark skirts, neck scarves and stand with two older women in military dress with the initials VFW on their sleeves.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
-
1951 photo of a few veterans, Santa Claus, and perhaps the VFW Ladies' Auxiliary--people involved in organizing the Christmas bazaar at Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vt.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
-
Undated photo of a gathering of veterans and their spouses. Flag displays the name of the local VFW post. Howard W. Plant was the first Burlington casualty of World War I. A memorial in Battery Park is dedicated to his memory, and the Burlington VFW Post no. 782 bears his name.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
-
Group of older women belonging to a Mothers Club. There are different types of these clubs ; blue star for mothers with sons and daughters in the military ; gold star for sons and daughters killed while serving. A banner is held by one woman. The number 797 can be seen on the women's caps....
Show moreGroup of older women belonging to a Mothers Club. There are different types of these clubs ; blue star for mothers with sons and daughters in the military ; gold star for sons and daughters killed while serving. A banner is held by one woman. The number 797 can be seen on the women's caps. Undated but may be early 1950s? Photo no. 2.
Show less
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
-
1957 photo of a Veterans Day ceremony at Battery Park. A man in uniform places a wreath at the VFW memorial site dedicated to Howard W. Plant, as a small crowd of women veterans (wearing garrison caps) and children look on. Weather on this day was chilly, with 15-25 mph winds, according to the...
Show more1957 photo of a Veterans Day ceremony at Battery Park. A man in uniform places a wreath at the VFW memorial site dedicated to Howard W. Plant, as a small crowd of women veterans (wearing garrison caps) and children look on. Weather on this day was chilly, with 15-25 mph winds, according to the Burlington Free Press. The other possible occasion may be the 40th anniversary of Plant's death (6 Dec., 1917).
Show less
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
-
1952 photo of some veterans at Memorial Auditorium, perhaps the people in charge of the bazaar; and, of course, Santa Claus.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
-
1952 photo of a VFW Christmas event, very likely at Memorial Auditorium. Men and women wearing garrison caps with veterans' insignia are seated and standing for a portrait, with Santa Claus and a Christmas tree in the background.