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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A family gathered in their living room at Christmas (evergreens on the fireplace mantel and tree to far right). An older man and woman sit on a sofa with their daughter (?) and three grown sons(?) standing behind, each in the military. Photo #8. Dated 1945.
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1944 indoor photo of a woman with two young men standing behind her, very likely a mother and her two sons. Picture of the Lord's Supper hangs on the wall to the right.
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1945 indoor photo of 7 family members, two of whom are service men in uniform. Taken perhaps after the War?
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- Portraits - Family
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1944 indoor photo of 8 family members.
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- Portraits - Family
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1944 indoor Christmas photo of the women in one family, with at least four, possibly five, generations present.
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1944 indoor photo of husband, wife, and infant. See also mcalB14F15i05 for same with more family members.
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- Portraits - Family
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1944 indoor photo of same couple in mcalB14F16i10. This view shows more of the room, including the audio console.
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1945 indoor photo of young boy and his mother.
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- Portraits - Family
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1944 indoor photo of mother with child and other family members, as seen in mcalB14F16i04.
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Mother and child seen in mcalB14F16i04.
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- Portraits - Family
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1944 indoor photo of five brothers and their parents. A wooden dog marionette seen behind hanging from one of the wall sconces.
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- Portraits - Family
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1950 group portrait photo of several men and women standing in a room. Four men in business suits are shaking hands. See also mcalB15F07i01 for another exposure with 1955 date.
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- Portraits - Family
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1944 indoor photo of five family members, with three generations present (and perhaps a serviceman absent). Probable: two sisters (standing), their parents, and infant grandchild.
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- Portraits - Family
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1944 indoor photo of couple relaxing at home. Many interesting details in decoration, fashion, and also the newspaper headlines.
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- Portraits - Family
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1945 indoor photo of a woman and two sailors, very likely a mother and her two sons. A portrait of the sailor on the left can be seen on the wall (right). Same location as mcalB14F22i10 with more family members.
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Another portrait photo of young couple as seen in mcalB15F02i05 seated on a very large (Art Deco style?) upholstered chair with wide arms.
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1945 indoor photo of parents and their son in the Navy, from the family seen in mcalB14F18i09.
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1944 indoor family portrait photo. Mother holds a new born baby girl.
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- Portraits - Family
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Another photo of mother and her three grown children. Mother sits in a very large upholstered armchair (Art Deco style?) Sons sit on the chair arms on either side of their mother. Framed picture behind reads in part "Welcome Guest!" Photo #1. Dated 1949.
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1948 family portrait photo taken in their home with Christmas tree in background. See also mcalB14F05i07 for the young girl in same setting holding a cat.