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
Pages
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Union St.
- Description
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Undated photo but may be 1929 or early 1930s view of So. Prospect Street during road construction for trolley track removal by the Burlington Street Dept. Tracks are seen running down the center of the street. Road surface between the tracks has been roughed up in preparation of removing the rails.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Union St.
- Description
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November 20, 1928. View is South Union looking north from Main Street showing the finished pavement of 2" black base with 2" asphalt top constructed on old telford base done by the Burlington Street Dept. Memorial Auditorium is to the left at the northwest corner of South Union and Main Streets....
Show moreNovember 20, 1928. View is South Union looking north from Main Street showing the finished pavement of 2" black base with 2" asphalt top constructed on old telford base done by the Burlington Street Dept. Memorial Auditorium is to the left at the northwest corner of South Union and Main Streets. On the same side of the street just to the north is the College Street Congregational Church. On the right are residences no longer in existence. See UVM's Historic Burlington Project, Burlington, Vermont, South of Pearl Street photographs from 1930s 1940s for more information.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Union St.
- Description
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October 10, 1938. Intersection of Pearl Street and North Union (to the right of the photo) and South Union (leading to the left). Street Dept. crew works near the street sign post at the corner of No. Union (extreme right). To the left across Pearl Street is No. 233 Pearl (built in 1814).
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- Burlington Streets: Union St.
- Description
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Undated view of the intersection of Main and So. Union streets during trolley track removal project by the Burlington Street Dept. Corner street sign identifies the location. A portion of the street has had the rails removed and has been filled in. Further up the street the empty trenches have...
Show moreUndated view of the intersection of Main and So. Union streets during trolley track removal project by the Burlington Street Dept. Corner street sign identifies the location. A portion of the street has had the rails removed and has been filled in. Further up the street the empty trenches have not yet been filled. A danger sign warns motorists.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: University Place
- Description
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June 13, 1935. P.W.A. (Public Works Administration) Project No. 2361. Sidewalk construction for University Place - Main Street. To the right is seen the Old Mill.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: University Place
- Description
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September 17, 1928. Road construction of curbs along University Place looking from Pearl Street. Ira Allen Chapel is to the left with Billings just beyond that. To the right is the main University of Vermont green.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: University Place
- Description
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June 13, 1935. P.W.A. (Public Works Administration) Project 2361. Sidewalk construction for University Place at the corner of Main Street by workmen of the Burlington Street Dept. To the right is Morrill Hall on the University of Vermont campus.
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- Burlington Streets: University Place
- Description
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November 21, 1928. University Place looking north from Main Street at intersection of Williston Road. Note the new improvements consisting of integral curb and gutters, pavement consisting of a 6" concrete base with 2" asphalt top, also new ornamental lighting on street. The University of Vermont...
Show moreNovember 21, 1928. University Place looking north from Main Street at intersection of Williston Road. Note the new improvements consisting of integral curb and gutters, pavement consisting of a 6" concrete base with 2" asphalt top, also new ornamental lighting on street. The University of Vermont green is to the left. Old Mill is center right and to the extreme right is the Gymnasium (later to become Royall Tyler Theatre). Elm trees line the street.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: University Place
- Description
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November 21, 1928. University Place looking south near the Pearl Street / Colchester Ave line. Note the new improvements consisting of integral curb and gutters, pavement consisting of 6" concrete base with 2" asphalt top, also new ornamental lighting systems. The main University of Vermont green...
Show moreNovember 21, 1928. University Place looking south near the Pearl Street / Colchester Ave line. Note the new improvements consisting of integral curb and gutters, pavement consisting of 6" concrete base with 2" asphalt top, also new ornamental lighting systems. The main University of Vermont green is to the right. Ira Allen Chapel is on the left. Further down on the left is Billings, Williams Hall and Old Mill. Locally known as "University Row." At the extreme left hand corner can just be seen a section of the trolley tracks still in place along Colchester Ave.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Willard Street
- Description
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March 25, 1931. Sewer Construction being done by the Burlington Street Dept. on So. Willard St. looking south from the intersection of Beech St. 1039 feet of 12 inch Vitrified Sewer Tile to be laid. The greater percentage of the excavation is in solid rock cut varying in depth from 6 inches to 9...
Show moreMarch 25, 1931. Sewer Construction being done by the Burlington Street Dept. on So. Willard St. looking south from the intersection of Beech St. 1039 feet of 12 inch Vitrified Sewer Tile to be laid. The greater percentage of the excavation is in solid rock cut varying in depth from 6 inches to 9 feet. In the middle distance workmen seen in the trench that runs down the center of the street. This picture was taken March 25th, 1931.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Willard Street
- Description
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September 27, 1931. View of a section of So. Willard Street looking south toward intersection of So. Willard, So. Union and Shelburne Road. Looks to be before road construction began by the Burlington Street Dept. judging from the condition of the road.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Willard Street
- Description
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August 10, 1932. Photo #7. So. Willard Street looking north during construction by the Burlington Street Dept. of 1932 Bond Issue Street paving project. Iron bar grids have been laid.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Willard Street
- Description
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October 14, 1932. Photo #8. Looking north from the intersections of So. Willard, So. Union and Shelburne Road at finished construction of 1932 Bond Issue project as done by the Burlington Street Dept.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Willard Street
- Description
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October 29, 1940. This view shows the sidewalk improvement by the Burlington Street Dept. under construction at a point opposite All Saints' Chapel on South Willard Street opposite the Texaco Filling Station. Note the forms being placed for reconstructing the concrete steps leading to the Chapel,...
Show moreOctober 29, 1940. This view shows the sidewalk improvement by the Burlington Street Dept. under construction at a point opposite All Saints' Chapel on South Willard Street opposite the Texaco Filling Station. Note the forms being placed for reconstructing the concrete steps leading to the Chapel, also the large amount of grading and excavating being done on the area between the new sidewalk and the curb; also the terrace back of the sidewalk. The dark area in the foreground is resurfacing of the shoulder of the street where the curb had been reset and the street widened in front of the old house which for many years obstructed the view at this point and extended into the street several feet causing an angle in the curb at this point. This house was removed to provide for the new Shell Filling Station.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Willard Street
- Description
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March 25, 1931. Sewer construction by the Burlington Street Dept. on So. Willard St. looking north from the intersection of Shelburne Road near Ledge Road. 1039 feet of 12 inch Vitrified Sewer Tile to be laid. The greater part of the excavation is in solid rock cut varying in depth from 6 inches...
Show moreMarch 25, 1931. Sewer construction by the Burlington Street Dept. on So. Willard St. looking north from the intersection of Shelburne Road near Ledge Road. 1039 feet of 12 inch Vitrified Sewer Tile to be laid. The greater part of the excavation is in solid rock cut varying in depth from 6 inches to 9 feet. Barely visible to the extreme right is a sign for All Saints' Chapel.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Willard Street
- Description
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June 29, 1929 South Willard Street looking south from Spruce Street as road work started June 21, 1929 by the Burlington Street Dept.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Willard Street
- Description
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July 13, 1932. Photo #5. Looking south along So. Willard Street from the intersection of Beech St. before Bond Issue Street paving was started by the Burlington Street Dept.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Willard Street
- Description
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October 29, 1940. This view shows the improvements at the intersection of Ledge Road and South Willard Street at the entrance to the Shell Gas Station where the new concrete radius sidewalk was installed connecting the northerly side of Ledge Road with the easterly side of South Willard Street....
Show moreOctober 29, 1940. This view shows the improvements at the intersection of Ledge Road and South Willard Street at the entrance to the Shell Gas Station where the new concrete radius sidewalk was installed connecting the northerly side of Ledge Road with the easterly side of South Willard Street. The old concrete ramp was resurfaced with plant mix asphalt as shown in the foreground. The concrete mixer and other equipment can be seen in the background. The small concrete island and sign post back of the $1.00 sign was also removed and the area surfaced with asphalt a few days later. This improvement provides a sidewalk for the school children in this are in going to and from the Adams School and Parochial School without crossing the entire width of this dangerous intersection, a cross walk being provided opposite All Saints' Chapel crossing Willard Street to the Texas Filling Station sidewalk shown in the background.
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- Title
- Burlington Streets: Willard Street
- Description
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September 27, 1931. View of Willard Street during road construction project. Burlington Street Dept. vehicle seen parked to the left near the curb.
- Title
- Burlington Streets: Willard Street
- Description
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October 19, 1929. View of South Willard Street.