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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- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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1957 photo of 16 veterans (of World War II, most likely) at the VFW hall. This may be a get-together after a Veterans Day observance such as the one seen in mcalB21F12i02.
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- Veterans of Foreign Wars
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1952 photo of a wreath-laying ceremony at Battery Park at the VFW memorial dedicated to Howard W. Plant. Plant, the first Burlington casualty of World War I, died on 6 Dec. 1917, so this event may be a 35th anniversary commemoration. Many veterans and military personnel, some carrying American...
Show more1952 photo of a wreath-laying ceremony at Battery Park at the VFW memorial dedicated to Howard W. Plant. Plant, the first Burlington casualty of World War I, died on 6 Dec. 1917, so this event may be a 35th anniversary commemoration. Many veterans and military personnel, some carrying American flags, are gathered near the site. Burlington Mayor J. Edward Moran can be seen on the far left, directly under the flag.
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- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
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Same event as in mcalB21F12i02 but with a different veteran speaking at the microphone. Very likely Veterans Day at Battery Park.
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- Veterans of Foreign Wars
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1951 photo of some of the volunteers at the VFW Christmas bazaar, including Santa Claus. Some of the women are wearing veterans' caps. Location is Memorial Auditorium.
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- Veterans of Foreign Wars
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The men gather for a group portrait. Banner in the background reads "Ladies Auxiliary Howard Plant, Post No. 782, Burlington, Vermont, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States" Instituted June 1924. Photo #2.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
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1952 photo (blurry) of the crowd at Memorial Auditorium for a VFW Christmas bazaar (note decorated tree and Santa Claus). Some veterans can be seen wearing their caps. Santa seems to be the center of attention at this moment.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
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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.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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A group of mostly older women veterans gather for a portrait. They wear the caps of their organization and each has a corsage. A banner in the background reads in part Ladies Auxiliary ... Howard ... Post No. ... Burlington"
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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1957 photo showing a gathering of veterans and neighborhood children, probably on Veterans Day. An elderly gentleman (seen in mcalB21F12i01), standing at a microphone, is addressing the crowd. The location is Battery Park (DeSoto/Plymouth dealership seen on far left is Brewer Bros. at No. 1-9...
Show more1957 photo showing a gathering of veterans and neighborhood children, probably on Veterans Day. An elderly gentleman (seen in mcalB21F12i01), standing at a microphone, is addressing the crowd. The location is Battery Park (DeSoto/Plymouth dealership seen on far left is Brewer Bros. at No. 1-9 North Ave., the north edge of Battery Park), and the crowd is facing the memorial placed there in memory of Howard W. Plant, "the first Burlington boy" to die in World War I.
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- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
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Ca. 1946 photo of a promotion for "Wear a V.F.W. Buddy Poppy," very likely a fund raising activity for the VFW. Two women hold a poster describing the concept, while a veteran (wearing the cap) either receives or gives a poppy to a lady. The location may be the offices of the VFW at 69 College St...
Show moreCa. 1946 photo of a promotion for "Wear a V.F.W. Buddy Poppy," very likely a fund raising activity for the VFW. Two women hold a poster describing the concept, while a veteran (wearing the cap) either receives or gives a poppy to a lady. The location may be the offices of the VFW at 69 College St., Burlington, Vt. (Howard Plant Post, #782). In the background are an American flag, the VFW post flag, a cross, and some military emblems.
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- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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1959 photo of a ceremony at Battery Park, very likely on Veterans Day. An honor guard stands ready to fire one or more volleys--very likely the customary three--in honor of deceased veterans. (Three volleys from seven rifles does not constitute a 21-gun salute, however.) A number of citizens are...
Show more1959 photo of a ceremony at Battery Park, very likely on Veterans Day. An honor guard stands ready to fire one or more volleys--very likely the customary three--in honor of deceased veterans. (Three volleys from seven rifles does not constitute a 21-gun salute, however.) A number of citizens are present. The veterans memorial in Battery Park is dedicated to the memory of Howard W. Plant, first Burlington casualty of World War I.
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- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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Ca. 1951 photo promoting the VFW poppy sale as a fundraising token. A boy presents a poppy to a local dignitary (Mayor Moran of Burlington?) as two veterans look on.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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Another view of Veterans Day (1957) at Battery Park, Burlington, Vt. Veterans, one soldier in uniform, and children from the neighborhood are present. The speaker at the microphone is as yet unidentified but could easily be a veteran of World War I (see also mcalB21F12i01-mcalB21F12i02).
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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1957 photo of a Veterans Day memorial at Battery Park in Burlington, Vt. Crowd consists of men and women veterans (many wearing uniforms and/or garrison caps), and children. A few men seem to be lined up to speak at the microphone.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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1959 photo of 14 veterans, taken at a party at the VFW hall in Burlington, Vt.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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1959 photo of a wreathe-laying ceremony at the VFW war memorial in Battery Park, very likely on Veterans Day. A lady in civilian clothing observes, standing apart from the crowd. She may be a survivor of Howard W. Plant, first Burlington World War I casualty, to whose memory the memorial is...
Show more1959 photo of a wreathe-laying ceremony at the VFW war memorial in Battery Park, very likely on Veterans Day. A lady in civilian clothing observes, standing apart from the crowd. She may be a survivor of Howard W. Plant, first Burlington World War I casualty, to whose memory the memorial is dedicated. A small crowd of veterans, citizens, and children has gathered at the site.
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- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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1957 photo of a gathering of veterans at Battery Park, Burlington, Vt. Occasion very likely is Veterans Day. A speaker is addressing the crowd. This may be J. Edward Moran, mayor of Burlington 1949-1957 and then manager of the airport.
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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1952 photo of the crowd at Memorial Auditorium for a VFW Christmas bazaar (note decorated tree and Santa Claus).
- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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1945 photo of several men--local dignitaries, servicemen, clergy, and veterans--gathered in downtown Burlington, Vt. (First Baptist Church and auto dealer Charles P. Smith Jr. are in background), very likely for the Armistice (now Veterans) Day parade, the first after the end of World War II. A...
Show more1945 photo of several men--local dignitaries, servicemen, clergy, and veterans--gathered in downtown Burlington, Vt. (First Baptist Church and auto dealer Charles P. Smith Jr. are in background), very likely for the Armistice (now Veterans) Day parade, the first after the end of World War II. A few women and children can be seen in the background. On the far left, in light fedora and overcoat, is Arthur W. Dow, state editor of the Burlington Free Press, a determined impresario of the performing arts who brought legendary musicians to Burlington, and editor of a column "Vermonters Serving under the U.S. Flag." Tragically, Dow suffered a heart attack and died just two weeks after this photo was taken.
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- Title
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Description
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Women of the Auxiliary gather for a group portrait. Banner in the background reads "Ladies Auxiliary Howard Plant, Post No. 782, Burlington, Vermont, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States"