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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1944 portrait photo of a very young girl seated in a wooden chair with a young boy. They are in front of the Christmas tree and a make shift fireplace. A radio and a 1920s style telephone set on top of the "fireplace" that has been covered with brick patterned paper.
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- Portraits - Children
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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.
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- Portraits - Children
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Undated portrait photo of a young girl standing in a living room. She wears her First Communion dress. Photo #1.Same girl as in mcalB14F11i02
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- Portraits - Children
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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
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- Portraits - Children
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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.
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- Portraits - Children
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1946 or 1947 photo of a young boy and his infant sibling standing in front of the family Christmas tree with their presents that include a plush bunny rabbit doll with mask face.
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- Portraits - Children
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1951 photo of three children in front of their Christmas tree surrounded by gifts the family received. The two boys wear cowboy outfits. Their younger sister seats between them. See another image of same children mcalB14F06i05
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- Portraits - Children
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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.
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- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
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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.
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- Portraits - Children
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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.
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- Portraits - Children
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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.
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- Portraits - Children
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1946 or 1947 photo of a young girl in the living room seated in an upholstered chair with her dolls and the family dog.
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- Portraits - Children
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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.
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- Portraits - Children
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1951 photo of same children seen in 1949 photo mcalB14F05i15. Seen here during another Christmas with their toys. Older girl holds two dolls. Other dolls sit in a toy highchairs. Youngest holds the handle of a baby carriage. Holiday cards adorn the fireplace mantle. Another photo is mcalB14F06i07
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- Portraits - Children
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1949 photo of a young girl sitting in a chair holding a cat. Child wears a chenille bathrobe with outline of a dog near the hem. Through the archway is a Christmas tree with various items displayed including a baby carriage and a phonograph record album "Pretty Baby".
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- Portraits - Children
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1949 portrait photo of three children; two brothers and a sister. The two boys stand, the girl sits on a small bench or table. Same children as seen in mcalB15F01i04 with their parents.
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- Portraits - Children
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1949 photo of three young children seated on the floor of a living room in front of a Christmas tree. Presents include a bike, two toy trains, various stuffed animals, a toy cash register and a toy metal backhoe digging machine.
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- Portraits - Children
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1945 photo of two boys (brothers?) seated in a living room on a hassock with a Christmas decorated mantle on the fireplace behind. Four stockings hang from the mantle piece.
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- Portraits - Children
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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.
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- Portraits - Children
- Description
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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.