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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- Title
- Camps - Summer
- Description
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1935/1936 photo of a group of women sitting on the steps of a camp building. Photo #4.
- Title
- Camps - Summer
- Description
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Summer, Fall 1945 photo of a group of young women seated on the steps of a camp building. An older woman is seated in the center of the group. Photo #4.
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- Camps: Unidentified
- Description
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Dining tables await those hungry for a meal. Camp staff at an unknown location gather for a group photo as they stand near cloth covered wooden tables set with plain white dinnerware and silverware. The setting suggests a camp building. Undated. Photo #5.
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- Cathedral High School
- Description
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Winter 1951 photo printed from a cracked glass negative of the senior choir standing in the sanctuary of St. Joseph's in Burlington, Vermont. It is Lent. In the back is the senior choir director Jerome Childs. Also present are Maurice Villemaire, who later became the choir director and Blanche...
Show moreWinter 1951 photo printed from a cracked glass negative of the senior choir standing in the sanctuary of St. Joseph's in Burlington, Vermont. It is Lent. In the back is the senior choir director Jerome Childs. Also present are Maurice Villemaire, who later became the choir director and Blanche Bonnette, church organist.
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- Title
- Cathedral High School
- Description
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Winter 1951 photo of the senior choir standing in the sanctuary of St. Joseph's in Burlington, Vermont. It is Lent. In the back is the senior choir director Jerome Childs. Also present are Maurice Villemaire and Blanche Bonnette. Photo #2.
- Title
- Cathedral High School
- Description
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Winter 1951 photo of the senior choir standing in the sanctuary of St. Joseph's in Burlington, Vermont. It is Lent. In the back is the senior choir director Jerome Childs. Also present are Maurice Villemaire who later became the choir director and Blanche Bonnette, church organist.
- Title
- Catholic Daughters of America
- Description
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1951 photo of Catholic Daughters of America. Photo #2.
- Title
- Catholic Daughters of America
- Description
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1951 photo of a recital or minstrel type production by members of the Catholic Daughters of America. Children are seated in front. Some cast members appear in black face. Photo #2.
- Title
- Catholic Daughters of America
- Description
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1951 photo of a recital or minstrel type production by members of the Catholic Daughters of America. Children are seated in front. Some cast members appear in black face. Photo #1.
- Title
- Christ the King Church
- Description
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1953 gathering of parishioners from Christ the King Church, location unknown. Rev. Charles A. Towne is seated at the center of the rear table. Wall mural seen in back. Photo #3.
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- Christ the King Church
- Description
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1953 gathering of parishioners from Christ the King Church, location unknown. Rev. Charles A. Towne is seated at the center of the table. Photo #2.
- Title
- Christ the King Church
- Description
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1953 gathering of parishioners from Christ the King Church, location unknown. Rev. Charles A. Towne is seated at the center of the table. Photo #1.
- Title
- Christ the King Church
- Description
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1951 photo of Rev. Charles A. Towne posing with a fellow priest and two female Christ the King parishioners. Photo #5.
- Title
- Christ the King Church
- Description
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1951 photo of Rev. Charles A. Towne posing with a fellow priest and two female Christ the King parishioners. Photo #4.
- Title
- Church Groups - Unidentified
- Description
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1945 photo of an unidentified church group gathered for a meal. Glass paneled wall in background. Left to right are: Rev. James Engle Mons. Bernard Flanagan Bishop Matthew Brady Rev. James Murray
- Title
- Church Groups - Unidentified
- Description
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1953 photo of a group outside on the grass. Mons Charles Towne, Pastor, Christ the King, Burlington Abbot Rudolph O.S.B, Founder, Weston Priory, Weston, Vermont. Photo #2.
- Title
- Church Groups - Unidentified
- Description
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1953 photo of a group outside on the grass. Mons Charles Towne, Pastor, Christ the King, Burlington Abbot Rudolph O.S.B, Founder, Weston Priory, Weston, Vermont. Photo #1.
- Title
- Circus People
- Description
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Portrait photo of a lady of the circus with flowers in her hair and wearing a dressy off the shoulder dress standing outside a tent. Same lady as seen in photos mcalA09F08i05 through 12. May be 1940s-50s? at the Champlain Valley Fair.
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- Circus People
- Description
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One of several photographs of Baby Thelma Williams as the circus "Fat Lady." This one showing her seated on an armed bench with one leg resting on the seat while she holds a mirror. Early 1950s photo possibly taken at the Champlain Valley Fair.
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- Circus People
- Description
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Portrait photo of a lady looking to the side dressed in a polka-dot skirt wearing a pearl necklace sitting outside. Date and location unknown. See also mcalA09F08i17, mcalA09F09i09, mcalA09F09i13.