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
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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This rustic wooden paneled room (perhaps a restaurant) is where a group of men and women gather for a group portrait. Burlington residents, Bob and Bea Earnshaw in second row seated left side. Undated but may be 1950s. See also mcalA15F05i11, i12 and i13.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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Three young men stand at ease in their military uniforms. They appear to be in a living room as family photos can be seen behind them.
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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A large group of men and women gather at a rustic restaurant(?) for a special meal and event. Dining tables are set and decorated with evergreens, candles and a special centerpiece seen at the head table.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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A Christmas party seems to be in progress. Here a young boy carrying items in his hands walks past tables lined up with adults and Santa Claus on the other side. Other men, women and children are seen along with a Christmas tree in the background. Event could be sponsored by the Rotary or some...
Show moreA Christmas party seems to be in progress. Here a young boy carrying items in his hands walks past tables lined up with adults and Santa Claus on the other side. Other men, women and children are seen along with a Christmas tree in the background. Event could be sponsored by the Rotary or some other local business or agency. Location may be Memorial Auditorium. Undated but may be 1920s or later.
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- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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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 mcalA15F04i16
- Title
- Portraits, groups, unidentified
- Description
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Five women relax in a large simply furnished common room lounging area reading magazines.
- Title
- Portraits, individuals, unidentified
- Description
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A mature woman wears a long dress and poses in the corner of a living room in front of a curtained window; perhaps her home. A phonograph player is seen to the right. See the same woman also in mcalA16F01i06, i07, i08
- Title
- Portraits, individuals, unidentified
- Description
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A mature woman wears a long dress and sits in a wooden chair in the corner of a living room in front of a curtained window with potted plants; perhaps her home. A fireplace is seen to the left. See the same woman in a different dress also in mcalA16F01i05, i06, i08
- Title
- Portraits, individuals, unidentified
- Description
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A mature woman wears a long dress and stands in the corner of a living room in front of a curtained window; perhaps her home. See the same woman in a different dress also in mcalA16F01i05, i06, i08
- Title
- Portraits, individuals, unidentified
- Description
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A mature woman wears a long dress and sits in an upholstered chair in the corner of a living room in front of a curtained window with potted plants; perhaps her home. A fireplace is seen to the left. See the same woman also in mcalA16F01i05, i07, i08
- Title
- Portraits, individuals, unidentified
- Description
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A mature woman wears a long dress and sits in an upholstered chair in the corner of a living room in front of a curtained window with potted plants; perhaps her home. She has removed her eyeglasses. A fireplace is seen to the left. See also mcalA16F01i05, i06, i08
- Title
- Portraits, individuals, unidentified
- Description
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An older bearded man sits in an elaborate high back wooden throne like chair with arms. He wears a dark colored skull cap type hat. A large basket of flowers seen to the right. Same unknown location as seen in mcalA15F01i10
- Title
- Portraits, individuals, unidentified
- Description
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A mature woman wears a long dress and sits in a wooden chair in the corner of a living room in front of a curtained window with potted plants; perhaps her home. A fireplace is seen to the left. See the same woman in a different dress also in mcalA16F01i05, i06, i08
- Title
- Portraits, individuals, unidentified
- Description
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A mature woman sits at a drop leaf table with a silver tea and coffee set. A pine corner cupboard displays more silver items such as bowls, and platters. A family photo is also seen on the upper shelf of the cupboard. Photo #4. 1959, see mcalB16F17i06 for same dated photo.
- Title
- Portraits, Religious Sisters [Nuns], Unidentified
- Description
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Photo of seven nuns holding candles descending a staircase.
- Title
- Portraits, Religious Sisters [Nuns], Unidentified
- Description
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Photo of seven nuns holding candles facing forward and descending a staircase.
- Title
- Queen City Park, So. Burlington
- Description
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God and Our Country is inscribed on this elaborate fireplace. The floor is covered with debris. A pool of water is formed on the floor in front. The brick chimney behind the fireplace facade is exposed through a picture frame type opening. Has there been a fire?
- Title
- Rice Memorial High School
- Date Created
- 1959
- Description
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Interior view of a small Catholic chapel with altar, pews and a nun. Dated 1959.
- Title
- Saint Joseph's Church and Chapel
- Date Created
- 1947
- Description
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1947 photo of the interior of St. Joseph's Church, which has a statue of Mary under a canopy and placed at the top of some steps. The statue is well lighted and surrounded by Easter lilies, palms, and other flowers.
- Title
- Saint Joseph's Church and Chapel
- Date Created
- 1947
- Description
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1947 photo of religious statue (Virgin Mary) under a canopy surrounded by lilies in Saint Joseph's Church.