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
- Portraits - Children
- Description
-
1949 photo of two boys wearing boxing gloves and standing in front of a Christmas tree. Other toys include a train, children's tea set, stuffed animals, punching bag.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
-
1946 or 1947 photo of a living room with Christmas tree, an infant in a jumper seat and a woman (child's mother?) on the left. Plush stuffed animals and baby rattles on the floor. Same child in mcalB14F04i10
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
-
1947 photo of two young boys in front of a Christmas tree surrounded by Christmas toys. Younger boy is seated on a rocking horse. His older brother stands beside him.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
-
1949 - 1950 portrait photo of three children (an infant, a sister and a brother) in a living room with Christmas tree. The boy sits on a bicycle with training wheels, the girl stands in a metal children's wagon, the infant is resting in an upholstered child's rocking chair. Other presents are...
Show more1949 - 1950 portrait photo of three children (an infant, a sister and a brother) in a living room with Christmas tree. The boy sits on a bicycle with training wheels, the girl stands in a metal children's wagon, the infant is resting in an upholstered child's rocking chair. Other presents are displayed and include a toy train with tracks, a cowboy outfit, fire extension ladder truck, a baby doll, coffee pot and toaster. Mom's smiling face is reflected in the mirror above the fireplace.
Show less
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
-
1946 or 1947 photo of a young boy on a tricycle with Christmas tree and other presents. A Red Arrow wooden sled is against the wall and a toy train with tracks beneath the tree.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
-
1947 photo of two young children (boys?) seated on the floor in front of a Christmas tree surrounded by Christmas toys. Seen are a small train on tracks, a Bambi rocker, a wagon, plush toys, books and noise makers.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
-
1945 Christmas portrait of toddler standing in front of a Christmas tree and presents in a living room. Note: Western Electric metal nondial space-saver wall telephone (1930-1957) with answer only capability seen to the right.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
-
1946 or 1947 photo of a Christmas tree in a living room next to a fireplace. An infant rests on a sofa to the left. The mirror over the mantle reflects a mother standing nearby.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
-
Four children pose by their Christmas tree in the living room of their home. The two younger children sit in chairs. Their older brother stands in the back next to his older sister. Wooden skis and two large teddy bears seen. Same family as seen in mcalA14F15i19 and in mcalB14F10i03.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
-
1946 or 1947 photo of an infant in a baby jumper seat surrounded with plush toys. Setting is a living room with Christmas tree behind.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
-
1945 photo of a young girl in a living room seated on the arm of an upholstered chair. She holds a doll. Beside her is a doll's crib. Behind her is a Christmas tree.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
-
1949 photo of two boys wearing boxing gloves and standing in front of a Christmas tree. Other toys include a train, train water tower, coloring book, children's tea set, stuffed animals, punching bag.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
-
1945 photo of a young boy seated on the floor with his Christmas toys and Christmas tree.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
-
1949 portrait photo of three young children seated on the floor of a living room in front of a Christmas tree with presents. Seen are a bike, two toy trains, stuffed animals, a toy cash register, toy digging machine.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
-
1945 photo of a young boy in his home seated on a rocking horse with other toys and the family Christmas tree. A framed photo of a soldier is placed on the floor among the toys that include a soldier doll.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
1935 or 1936. An all male wait staff stands ready to serve this Christmas meal. A dining hall at Mount St. Mary's is heavily decorated with crepe paper streamers attached to the ceiling. Tables are elaborately set with food with each having a cloth place mat draping the table covering and a place...
Show more1935 or 1936. An all male wait staff stands ready to serve this Christmas meal. A dining hall at Mount St. Mary's is heavily decorated with crepe paper streamers attached to the ceiling. Tables are elaborately set with food with each having a cloth place mat draping the table covering and a place card. Columns are adorned with streamers and evergreen bows. See also mcalA11F19i07 and mcalA15F08i13.
Show less
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
1935 or 1936. A dining hall at Mount St. Mary's is heavily decorated with crepe paper streamers attached to the ceiling. Tables are elaborately set with food with each having a cloth place mat draping the table covering and a place card. Columns are adorned with streamers and evergreen bows. An...
Show more1935 or 1936. A dining hall at Mount St. Mary's is heavily decorated with crepe paper streamers attached to the ceiling. Tables are elaborately set with food with each having a cloth place mat draping the table covering and a place card. Columns are adorned with streamers and evergreen bows. An all male wait staff stands ready to serve this Christmas meal at Mount St. Mary's. See also mcalA15F08i13, mcalA11F19i07 and mcalB15F12i15.
Show less
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
1945 photo of a dinner being held at Christmas, with several attendees wearing navy uniforms. There are two American flags placed onstage on either side of the Christmas tree. The location looks like the Southwick Ballroom on the Redstone Campus, Univ. of Vt. Occasion unknown.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
A large group of women gather to celebrate Christmas. A tree is behind them and Santa Claus sits front row center. Dated 1945.
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
-
A Christmas photo of a large group of children seated on raised bleachers in a narrow room. Boys (wearing suits and ties) are seated on one side ; the girls on the other. On the floor between the two bleacher sections is Santa Claus (in suit and face mask) along with many other younger children....
Show moreA Christmas photo of a large group of children seated on raised bleachers in a narrow room. Boys (wearing suits and ties) are seated on one side ; the girls on the other. On the floor between the two bleacher sections is Santa Claus (in suit and face mask) along with many other younger children. Each child holds a Christmas stocking filled with gifts and treats. A large decorated Christmas tree is seen in the center background.
Show less