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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Photograph of an undated photograph that has been mounted in a paper frame. Two women sit in a horse drawn carriage on a wooded dirt road.
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- Photographs
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Photograph of an informal photo pinned to a surface. Man has his arm around a woman's shoulders. They are both smiling.
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- Portraits - Children
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1944 portrait photo of what may be a family of grandmother, mother and infant. See also mcalB14F01i04 photo of just the child.
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- Portraits - Children
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Two images of an infant ; one photo has mother holding the baby on the back of the couch while she stands behind. Dated 1944.
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- Portraits - Children (Parties)
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1945 patriotic themed family gathering. One woman and 12 children stand behind a table. A covering shows patriotic images with the word "liberty". A cake and dishes of fresh apples seen. Children all wear paper hats.
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- Portraits - Children (Parties)
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1945 family photo at the dinner table celebrating a child's 2nd birthday. Two candles and the number 2 on the cake. See also mcalB14F12i10 for same setting.
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- Portraits - Children (Parties)
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1949 or 1950 photo of 14 very young children at a dining table celebrating a birthday. Two women (still smiling) seen to the far right. The table covering has a Christmas theme (reindeer, evergreen tree and Santa).
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- Portraits - Children (Parties)
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1948 or 1949 group portrait photo of several children (all wearing party hats) and four women gathered in a living room. Photo #1. See also mcalB14F12i20
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- Portraits - Children (Parties)
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1945 children's birthday party with moms and children guests gathered around the table set with cake and individual cupcakes for each child. Photo 1. See also mcalB14F12i01, mcalB14F12i02
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- Portraits - Children (Parties)
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1946 or 1947 photo of a large birthday gathering. About 20 children attend. A long table is elaborately decorated with birthday plates, cups and napkins. Crepe paper streamers hang from above. Photo #1. See also mcalB14F12i16.
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- Portraits - Children (Parties)
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1945 family photo of just the children at the dinner table celebrating a birthday. Grandmother seen to the right. See also mcalB14F12i09
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- Portraits - Children (Parties)
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1945 photo of a photo with just the children at the dinner table celebrating a birthday. Grandmother seen to the right. See also mcalB14F12i10
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- Portraits - Children (Parties)
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1949 photo of a Jewish family celebrating. A menorah sits on the dining table with moms, a grandmother and children gathered around.
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- Portraits - Children (Parties)
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1949 photo of a Jewish family celebrating. A menorah sits on the dining table with moms, a grandmother and children gathered around.
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- Portraits - Children (Parties)
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1948 or 1949 group portrait photo of several children (all wearing party hats) and four women gathered in a living room. Photo #2. See also mcalB14F12i22
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- Portraits - Children (Parties)
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1946 or 1947 photo of a large birthday gathering. About 20 children attend. A long table is elaborately decorated with birthday plates, cups and napkins. Crepe paper streamers hang from above. Photo #2. See also mcalB14F12i23.
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- Portraits - Circus
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1951/1952 photo of Baby Thelma Williams as the circus "Fat Lady."
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- Portraits - Circus
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1951/1952 photo of Baby Thelma Williams as the circus "Fat Lady."
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- Portraits - Circus
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1951/1952 photo of Baby Thelma Williams as the circus "Fat Lady" reclining on a bench.
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- Portraits - Circus
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1951/1952 photo of Baby Thelma Williams as the circus "Fat Lady."