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
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- Theatricals
- Description
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1947 high school dramatic production. Living dining room setting. Kellogg's corn flakes cereal on table.
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- Theatricals
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1948 / 1949. Portrait photo of cast on stage of a Dutch theme production. Various aged children. Photo #2.
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- Theatricals
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1947 high school dramatic production. Living room setting with fireplace. Photo #4.
- Title
- Theatricals
- Date Created
- 1945
- Description
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1944 or 1945 photo of a large group of people on stage; women in long gowns, men in black bow ties and white jackets, Boy Scouts kneeling in front with a sailor.
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- Theatricals
- Description
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1952. This is a photograph of a photo showing a large boys' choir arranged in front of a stage. On stage are adults dressed in biblical costume. School dramatic production? Photo #4.
- Title
- Theatricals
- Description
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1947 school dramatic production. Stage set with a living dining room. Corn Flakes cereal on the table. Photo #2.
- Title
- Theatricals
- Date Created
- 1944
- Description
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Another 1944 photo of 18 girls all dressed alike in long dresses are on stage. They pose with stretched pieces of cloth that when viewed seem to form 6 pointed "snowflakes." Winter pageant or performance? Photo #1. See also mcalB18F33i01
- Title
- Theatricals
- Description
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1948 / 1949. Portrait photo of cast on stage of a Dutch theme school production. Photo #1.
- Title
- Theatricals
- Description
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1947 high school dramatic production. Living room setting with fireplace. Photo #5?
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- Theatricals
- Description
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1952 photo of cast of a school stage production performed at Taft School auditorium.
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- Theatricals
- Description
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1950s school dramatic production held in the Taft School auditorium. Photo #4.
- Title
- Theatricals
- Description
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1958 cast portrait photo from a high school dramatic production "The Lowland Sea", a contemporary opera performed in the auditorium of Edmunds High School building (Burlington High School) Photo #1. See 1958 BHS Oread yearbook for writeup.
- Title
- Theatricals
- Description
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1952 school stage production performed at Taft School auditorium.
- Title
- Trinity College - Groups
- Description
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1949 photo of Trinity College faculty member and students gathered in the auditorium for a group photo. Location is very likely the Admin. Building (Mann Hall).
- Title
- UVM Groups
- Description
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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
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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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.
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- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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1951 candid photo of some of the volunteers at the VFW Christmas bazaar, including Santa Claus. McAllister has captured a lively moment in the group interaction. Venue is Memorial Auditorium.