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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- Portraits - Individuals
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A workman uses a wrench to tighten a bolt as he works on a vertical chute or conveyor belt. He stands in an open commercial room with a brick floor. Heavy industrial size pipes seen in background to the left. Dated 1951.
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- Portraits - Individuals
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A workman uses a wrench to tighten a bolt on a heavy piece of machinery. He stands in an open commercial room with a brick floor. Heavy industrial size pipes seen. He rests his foot on a metal box with a handle and mesh screen top. Dated 1951.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Ca. 1945 photo of 20 men and 2 women, very likely employees of a company. Identity of company and location unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1945 photo of what appears to be a business meeting and a presentation pertaining to the Farnsworth Co. that manufactures televisions and other electronic transmitters and receivers. Wall display shows a certificate indicating that "John Doe & Company" is an "approved Farnsworth dealer."...
Show more1945 photo of what appears to be a business meeting and a presentation pertaining to the Farnsworth Co. that manufactures televisions and other electronic transmitters and receivers. Wall display shows a certificate indicating that "John Doe & Company" is an "approved Farnsworth dealer." Presumably the attendees, which include some women, have an interest in the company.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1947 photo of a meeting of men and women affiliated with the Nash bed company. (See also mcalB15F22i07.) Identity of persons, venue, occasion unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1945 photo of 6 men, all wearing white shirts, ties, and dark trousers--business attire of an as yet unknown business. Background looks like a small theater stage, with several layers of curtains. Group, venue, and occasion are unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1944 photo of three men and a woman (who resembles Margaret Thatcher) looking over some documents. Several photos of buildings and houses are on the wall. Location may be an architectural firm, but that remains unknown along with the identity of the persons and the occasion.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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1944 photo of two men. Likely scenario: one is presenting the other with a check or other document. Further details on identity, location, or occasion are unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Ca. 1945 photo of 20 men and 2 women, very likely employees of a company. Identity of company and location unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Over exposed 1935 / 1936 winter photo of a group of well-dressed, influential men standing in front of an airplane, presumably at Burlington Int'l Airport. On the left is a delivery truck owned by Railway Express Agency, which had headquarters at 111 St. Paul St., Burlington. The City Directory...
Show moreOver exposed 1935 / 1936 winter photo of a group of well-dressed, influential men standing in front of an airplane, presumably at Burlington Int'l Airport. On the left is a delivery truck owned by Railway Express Agency, which had headquarters at 111 St. Paul St., Burlington. The City Directory lists Herbert E. Fitch as agent. Also on the left: a boy with his dog that lays on a crate with sign "Live Dog". Occasion and purpose of photo unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Ca. 1945 photo of 5 men, 2 women, all employees, apparently, of an unidentified business. This is the same office seen in mcalB15F20i09.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1948 photo of a group of men and women involved with General Home Equipment (see mcalB15F23i04). Location and occasion are unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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1935 / 1936 winter photo of a group of well-dressed, influential men standing in front of an airplane, presumably at Burlington Int'l Airport. On the left is a delivery truck owned by Railway Express Agency, which had headquarters at 111 St. Paul St., Burlington. The City Directory lists Herbert...
Show more1935 / 1936 winter photo of a group of well-dressed, influential men standing in front of an airplane, presumably at Burlington Int'l Airport. On the left is a delivery truck owned by Railway Express Agency, which had headquarters at 111 St. Paul St., Burlington. The City Directory lists Herbert E. Fitch as agent. Also on the left: a boy with his dog that sits on a crate with sign "Live Dog". Occasion and purpose of photo unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1951 group of men gathered near tables in a public commercial room with display material set up advertising MoPar Micronic Oil Filters. Photo #2.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1947 photo of 3 men affiliated in some way with the Nash bed company. One man is presenting the other with a plaque or certificate while the third looks on. Three large banners promoting the company's product hang on the wall.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1944 photo of four men, very likely in a business setting, with unpainted walls in the background. Names, location, occasion are unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1945 photo of what appears to be a business meeting and a presentation pertaining to the Farnsworth Co., which manufactured television receivers "based upon the invention of Philo T. Farnsworth" (NY Times, Mar 28, 1939). The venue is unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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1951 group of men gathered near tables in a public commercial room with display material set up advertising MoPar Micronic Oil Filters. Photo #1.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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1945 photo of a large group of men and women assembled within what appears to be a small stage. The group dynamic suggests that they are co-workers in a business, possibly with spouses present. Identity of group, venue, and occasion are unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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Ca. 1945 photo of 5 men, 2 women, all employees, apparently, of an unidentified business. This is the same office seen in mcalB15F20i09.