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
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- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Lower)
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Feb. 17, 1944 dated photo. Burlington Street Department, Snow Removal Methods and Equipment. This view of Main Street looking westerly from the intersection of South Winooski Ave. showing the effect of the clear Rock Salt applied to the pavement the previous day with the equipment shown in view...
Show moreFeb. 17, 1944 dated photo. Burlington Street Department, Snow Removal Methods and Equipment. This view of Main Street looking westerly from the intersection of South Winooski Ave. showing the effect of the clear Rock Salt applied to the pavement the previous day with the equipment shown in view No. 1. Note the great amount of snow piled along the gutters and the entire absence of snow in the traveled portion of the street, thus eliminating the necessity of applying sand for traction purposes. Although the pavement is wet with the salt brine formed from the melting snow it does not create a slippery condition because the tires seem to grip the pavement as the frost is removed from the surface. On the left is the Court House and the mansard roofed building that once was a place of worship for the First Baptist Church. Businesses and retail stores on the right including offers for personal loans, and the Federal Savings Bank. Cars parked on both sides of the street.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Upper)
- Description
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April 20, 1938 view of Main Street from South Union to South Willard Street, WPA Project 465-12-1-16 This view shows the construction work after all excavation of the old pavement had been made and sand cushion with telford stone base had been nearly completed; also crushed stone base placed on...
Show moreApril 20, 1938 view of Main Street from South Union to South Willard Street, WPA Project 465-12-1-16 This view shows the construction work after all excavation of the old pavement had been made and sand cushion with telford stone base had been nearly completed; also crushed stone base placed on the telford on the south half of the street. To the extreme right is seen a corner of the Edmunds High School building (Burlington High School).
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Upper)
- Description
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Date may be September 1, 1933. Caption on photo reads "#1-9-1-33 Main Street looking west from City Limits before street widening and resurfacing." To the far right is town line sign for Burlington and So. Burlington. Several other photos show this repaving projects including mcalA05F15i09, i10,...
Show moreDate may be September 1, 1933. Caption on photo reads "#1-9-1-33 Main Street looking west from City Limits before street widening and resurfacing." To the far right is town line sign for Burlington and So. Burlington. Several other photos show this repaving projects including mcalA05F15i09, i10, i15, i23, i24, i26, i29.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Upper)
- Description
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April 20, 1938 view of city street crew working on road construction of upper Main Street below Willard Street. The street has been dug up and resurfacing material laid down. A dump truck can be seen further down the hill. Elm trees line both sides of the street.
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- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Upper)
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November 27, 1934 view of Main Street looking east from the city reservoir. Photo #16A 11-27-34 NRM Project #608. Construction completed.
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- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Upper)
- Description
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November 27, 1934 view of upper Main Street looking west from East Avenue. Photo #15A 11-27-34 NRM Project #60B. Construction completed. To the left is a sign advertising Shell Motor Oil. To the right are business, town and directional signs. One sign advertises Hotel Van Ness.
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- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Upper)
- Description
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Street dept crew resurfacing a portion of Main Street. Seen are several dept vehicles tamping the asphalt, spraying water to keep the dust down and unloading the asphalt. Undated (1930s?)
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- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Upper)
- Description
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July 27, 1934 #2A 7/27/34 Main Street N.R.M. Project #60-B Applying Coda's Type #3 Asphalt Emulsion to bottom course of penetration 2 1/2". A Burlington street dept crew member stands behind vehicle as it sprays the emulsion.
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- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Upper)
- Description
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July 20, 1934 view of Main Street being resurfaced. Probably the same construction project N. R. M. #60B as seen in photo mcalA05F15i09. One half of the road is laid with crushed material. To the right a sign warns motorists "Danger, street construction, workmen ahead, drive slowly"
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Upper)
- Description
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September 1, 1933 photo of upper Main Street looking east from opposite farm buildings before widening and resurfacing of the road by the Burlington Street Dept.
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- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Upper)
- Description
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View of Main Street looking northeast. Four members of the street dept crew stand next to a truck after a heavy snow fall. In the background is 266 Main Street once the residence of Benjamin White. American elms stand behind. Undated by may be 1920s.
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- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Upper)
- Description
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View of road construction project of upper Main Street. This is an undated photo of the N.R.M #60B project of 1934 showing the 2nd application of penetration. A city street dept vehicle is seen in the distance. See mcalA05F15i09
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- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Upper)
- Description
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September 1, 1933 #3 dated photo of Main Street looking East from University Place before street widening and resurfacing. City water reservoir to center right with the Pump House just visible. Near the University of Vermont campus.
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- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Upper)
- Description
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July 20, 1934 N. R. M. Project #60-B Main Street (U.S. Route 2) - This view shows the pavement construction which included resurfacing and widening as seen from the junction of Main St. and University Place looking in an easterly direction near the University of Vermont campus. To the right is...
Show moreJuly 20, 1934 N. R. M. Project #60-B Main Street (U.S. Route 2) - This view shows the pavement construction which included resurfacing and widening as seen from the junction of Main St. and University Place looking in an easterly direction near the University of Vermont campus. To the right is the city water reservoir and Pump House.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Upper)
- Description
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September 8, 1934 photo #5A 9-8-34 Main Street. N.R.M. Project #60B looking west from East Ave. after 2nd application of penetration. A slightly different view is seen in Images of America Burlington, p. 41.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Upper)
- Description
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A street dept vehicle with attached snowplowing equipment is seen in this undated (may be 1920s) photo with crew members standing nearby. To the extreme right may be the corner of the Edmunds High School (Burlington High School).
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Upper)
- Description
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Date may be September 1, 1933. Caption reads "#4-9-1-33 Main Street looking west from opposite University farm buildings before street widening and resurfacing."
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Upper)
- Description
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November 17, 1933; 11-17-33 N. R. M. #60B Federal Project Main Street looking west from city limits. Large pieces of crushed stone lay on one side of the street in this resurfacing project. Wooden saw horses serve as barriers. Workmen and vehicles seen further up the road.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Upper)
- Description
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May 9, 1938 view of Main Street from South Union Street to South Willard Street, WPA Project No. 465-12-1-16. This view shows the completed pavement after a binder course of hot mix stone-filled-sheet asphalt had been constructed on the penetration crushed stone base which is partially shown in...
Show moreMay 9, 1938 view of Main Street from South Union Street to South Willard Street, WPA Project No. 465-12-1-16. This view shows the completed pavement after a binder course of hot mix stone-filled-sheet asphalt had been constructed on the penetration crushed stone base which is partially shown in the view showing previous construction. Through the elm trees, a corner of the Edmunds High School building (Burlington High School) can be seen on the far right. Earlier and later models of automobiles are parked on both sides of the street.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Main Street (Upper)
- Description
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Winter view of Main Street after a heavy snow fall looking northeast and city street dept crew with tractor with spiked wheels pulling truck with attached snowplowing equipment. On the left is 278 Main Street, a Greek revival home. Elm trees line the road. Undated (1920s?)