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 high school history class is seen with six female uniformed (Catholic?) students focused on a large map showing the campaigns and empire of Alexander (the Great).
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A large group of young people along with a few older adults gather at a rustic restaurant(?) a special event.
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A large group of young people along with a few older adults gather at a rustic restaurant(?) for a special meal and event.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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A large group of young people and two older women gathered in a wood paneled, wood floor room for a photo portrait.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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A large group of young people along with a few older adults gather at a rustic restaurant(?) for a special meal and event.
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A group of men and women in formal dress gather in a high ceiling wood floor room for a portrait. Most have their eyes closed. Smoke from the flash of the photographer's camera can be seen in the upper right corner of the photo. Undated but may be 1920s.
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1959 photo of three ladies wrapping Christmas gifts including Sundial shoes, a baby doll's bassinet and winter coats for children. They sit in a wood paneled room in front of a brick fireplace. Photo #1. See also mcalB15F09i01 for a different exposure of the same women.
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A group of young men and women pose for a portrait in a rustic wood paneled room (perhaps a restaurant?) Two older women sit in front. Two paintings are on the wall; one of a barn and one of an outdoor scene. Photo #1.
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A large group of men gather around a leaf expanded wooden table. A large rake of antlers hang on the back wall. The room has a patterned floor covering and a wallpapered or stenciled decoration along the wall near the ceiling. A heavy curtain hangs to the right of the photo. Early part of the...
Show moreA large group of men gather around a leaf expanded wooden table. A large rake of antlers hang on the back wall. The room has a patterned floor covering and a wallpapered or stenciled decoration along the wall near the ceiling. A heavy curtain hangs to the right of the photo. Early part of the 20th century?
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Ten young women relax in a common room lounging area reading magazines. A large portrait painting of a woman hangs on the wall.
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A large group of men are gathered in a room with a lot of lattice work along the walls and ceiling. The letters VH are prominently displayed overhead. All the men wear business suits, some are three piece suits and all wear large tags with their names written on the lower half.
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A large group of costumed men and women gather for a group photo in a large gymnasium type room. A basketball hoop is seen in the back overhanging the double doors. A spiral staircase is seen to the far right in the back. A small group of musicians are gathered in the back to the left. Banners...
Show moreA large group of costumed men and women gather for a group photo in a large gymnasium type room. A basketball hoop is seen in the back overhanging the double doors. A spiral staircase is seen to the far right in the back. A small group of musicians are gathered in the back to the left. Banners hang on poles.
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A group of men are gathered around dining tables in a room.
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A group of men and women gather on in a rustic wood paneled room (perhaps a restaurant). Candles and a table centerpiece decorate the head table.
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A clergyman stands center surrounded by several older women dressed in evening gowns adorned with corsages. They all gather around a table covered with an elegant crocheted table cloth and set with what appears to be a silver tea / coffee service. A stage is seen behind.
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A large group of men and women dressed in costume pose for a photo in what looks like a large gymnasium. Folding chairs line the sides of the room and a raised stage in seen in the background. Paper streamers decorate the ceiling.
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A large group of diners gather at tables for a meal. The tables are arranged along the walls of a narrow multi-room area. It appears that folding doors separate the rooms. A head table is seen in the distance. See also mcalA15F04i02
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A large group of young men and young women gather near dining tables in a wood paneled room for a photo portrait. The boys are assembled at the left and the girls to the right. A moose head hangs high on the back wall.
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Eight older women gather in a corner of a room for a group portrait. Room contains living room type furniture. Could this be a Bible study class?
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A group of young women gathered together are seen reading magazines or sorting through 45 rpm records in a large room. Radiator heaters are seen against the wall.