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
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Mid 1950s outdoor group portrait photo of several children and adults. Photo #7.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Another 1949 photo of a group of men, women, a nun and children gathered in a room; perhaps a kitchen (linoleum floor) for a portrait. See also mcalB16F01i06 with just the adults. Photo #4.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Another 1949 photo of a group of men, women, a nun and children gathered in a room; perhaps a kitchen (linoleum floor) for a portrait. See also mcalB16F01i06 with just the adults. Photo #5.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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1952 group portrait photo of young people along with several men and women gathered around dining tables in a rustic restaurant.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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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 or event. Knotty pine paneled walls, hard wood floor and a chandelier made from wooden logs. Dated 1949 or 1950. Printed from a damaged negative.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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Mid 1950s outdoor group portrait photo of several children and adults. Photo #7.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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1949 photo of a group of men, women, a nun and children gathered in a room; perhaps a kitchen (linoleum floor) for a portrait. See also mcalB16F01i06 with just the adults.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Another exposure of more of the group as seen in mcalB16F09i02. Family celebration or reunion?
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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Ca. 1945 photo of the children seen in mcalB15F20i01: 6 boys, one girl, standing at some tables in a store or workshop. Identity of children, location, and occasion unknown.
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- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
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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 or event. Dated 1949 or 1950.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
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1949 photo of a group of men, women, and a nun gathered in a room; perhaps a kitchen (linoleum floor) for a portrait. Same people as seen in mcalB16F01i05.
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- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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Nine youth pose for a group photo. Five children (three boys and two girls) sit on a couch. The two girls wear matching dresses. Behind the couch three older boys stand. The youngest child (a boy) sits on the back of the couch. A picture of Christ hangs on the wall behind the youth.
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- Portraits, children, unidentified
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A Christmas photo of a large group of children seated on raised bleachers in a narrow room. Boys (wearing suits and ties) are seated on one side ; the girls on the other. On the floor between the two bleacher sections is Santa Claus (in suit and face mask) along with many other younger children....
Show moreA Christmas photo of a large group of children seated on raised bleachers in a narrow room. Boys (wearing suits and ties) are seated on one side ; the girls on the other. On the floor between the two bleacher sections is Santa Claus (in suit and face mask) along with many other younger children. Each child holds a Christmas stocking filled with gifts and treats. A large decorated Christmas tree is seen in the center background.
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- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
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A group of young children sit in a classroom setting (perhaps a church school class as a small replica of a church is seen on the arm of a chair in the foreground) surrounded by paper cardboard building blocks of the 1950s. Three women attend the the boys and girls. A doll house among other toys...
Show moreA group of young children sit in a classroom setting (perhaps a church school class as a small replica of a church is seen on the arm of a chair in the foreground) surrounded by paper cardboard building blocks of the 1950s. Three women attend the the boys and girls. A doll house among other toys are seen in the room. See also mcalA14F16i26
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- Portraits, children, unidentified
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Two young children sit upon an upholstered stool each dressed in a German / Austrian / Tyrolian type outfit. A golden retriever dog lays in front. A fireplace is seen behind. See also mcalA14F16i06
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- Portraits, children, unidentified
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Children portray characters in a dramatic production from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland or Through the Looking Glass. Some of the characters are the Red Queen, White Queen, Mock Turtle, Mad Hatter.
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- Portraits, children, unidentified
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Two young children seated in an upholstered chair. The older child sits on the arm of the chair while the younger baby sits leaning in the corner of the chair against her older sister. The baby wears a crocheted sweater and matching booties.
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- Portraits, children, unidentified
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May Crowning? A close up photo of the central girl on a platform with trellis behind dressed as a religious figure. She is surrounded by six young school children dressed in First Communion dresses and veils. Photo #1. See also mcalA14F15i01
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- Portraits, children, unidentified
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Helen Best of the First Congregational Church, Burlington, Vermont stands in the back to the left with a large group of what may be Sunday School children seated in folding metal chairs assembled in the lower level. Several other women (perhaps teachers) also stand in the back.
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- Portraits, children, unidentified
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Two young children stand upon an upholstered stool each dressed in a German / Austrian / Tyrolian type outfit. A fireplace is seen behind with a portrait painting of a young woman hung above the fireplace. See also mcalA14F16i08