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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- Title
- Circus People
- Description
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Portrait photo of a lady of the circus standing outside a tent holding a cupid like sculpted figure. Same lady as seen in mcalA09F08i05, 06, 07, 08 and 09. May be 1940s-50s? at the Champlain Valley Fair.
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- Circus People
- Description
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Portrait photo of a lady of the circus with flowers in her hair and wearing a dressy off the shoulder dress standing outside a tent. Same lady as seen in photos mcalA09F08i05 through 12. May be 1940s-50s? at the Champlain Valley Fair.
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- Circus People
- Description
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Photo of two men of the circus standing near the company's trailers. The man of the left may be the Iceland Viking Giant as seen in mcalA09F08i02 and mcalA09F09i03 in his costume. The man on the right appears in his tattoo artist booth in photo mcalA09F08i03. May be 1940s-50s at the Champlain...
Show morePhoto of two men of the circus standing near the company's trailers. The man of the left may be the Iceland Viking Giant as seen in mcalA09F08i02 and mcalA09F09i03 in his costume. The man on the right appears in his tattoo artist booth in photo mcalA09F08i03. May be 1940s-50s at the Champlain Valley Fair, Essex Junction, Vermont.
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- Title
- Circus People
- Description
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One of several photographs of Baby Thelma Williams as the circus "Fat Lady." This one showing her seated on an armed bench with one leg resting on the seat while she holds a mirror. Early 1950s photo possibly taken at the Champlain Valley Fair.
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- Circus People
- Description
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Portrait photo of a man of the circus, with who may be his wife and child. The man may be afflicted with a form of Elephant man disease. May be 1940s-50s at the Champlain Valley Fair. See also mcalA14F16i09
- Title
- Circus People
- Description
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Portrait photo of a lady of the circus standing outside a tent. Same lady as seen in mcalA09F08i05, 06, 07 and 08. May be 1940s at the Champlain Valley Fair. 1940s-50s?
- Title
- Circus People
- Description
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Side view portrait photo of a man of the circus who may be afflicted with a form of Elephant man disease. May be 1940s-50s at the Champlain Valley Fair.
- Title
- Circus People
- Description
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Photo of a reclining nude lady; a member of the circus and one of the performers. Same lady as in mcalA09F08i06 and 07. The Circus may have been an independent organization that traveled to Vermont and set up at the Champlain Valley Exposition fairgrounds. 1940s-50s?
- Title
- Circus People
- Description
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Photo of a man of the circus dressed in a regular suit of clothes standing next to a large trailer. He may be afflicted with a form of Elephant man disease. May be 1940s-50s at the Champlain Valley Fair.
- Title
- Circus People
- Description
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One of several photographs of Baby Thelma Williams as the circus "Fat Lady." This one showing her seated on an armed bench with hands on her legs. Early 1950s photo possibly taken at the Champlain Valley Fair.
- Title
- Circus People
- Description
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Photo of a man of the circus who may be afflicted with a form of Elephant man disease. May be 1940s-50s at the Champlain Valley Fair.
- Title
- Circus People
- Description
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Portrait photo of a lady of the circus standing outside a tent in an off the shoulder dress, dangling earrings and a flower and feather hairpiece. Same lady as seen in mcalA09F08i05, 06, 07 and 08. May be 1940s-50s at the Champlain Valley Fair.
- Title
- Circus People
- Description
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Photo of a circus performer balancing a barbell standing outside a pull trailer and other circus structures. Location and date unknown. Photo #5. The Circus may have been an independent organization that traveled to Vermont and set up at the Champlain Valley Exposition fairgrounds. 1940s-50s?
- Title
- Circus People
- Description
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Baby Thelma Williams as the circus Fat Lady seen sitting on a sofa holding a mirror primping her hair. See also in mcalA09F09i05, 8, 10, 11, 12) Early 1950s photo possibly taken at the Champlain Valley Fair.
- Title
- Circus People
- Description
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Baby Thelma Williams as the circus Fat Lady seen here reclining (see also mcalA09F09i04, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12) Early 1950s photo possibly taken at the Champlain Valley Fair.
- Title
- Circus People
- Description
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Photo of two men of the circus. The one on the left may also be the Iceland Viking Giant seen here in regular street clothes. The man next to him dressed in a regular suit of clothes may be afflicted with a form of Elephant man disease. May be 1940s-50s at the Champlain Valley Fair.
- Title
- Circus People
- Description
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Main Circus sideshow with staging, banners, circus performers, and other employees. The main stage states 'strange people.' The ticket podiums states 'freaks.' Overhead banners advertises 'direct from Iceland Viking Giant alive.' The Circus traveled to Vermont and set up at the Champlain Valley...
Show moreMain Circus sideshow with staging, banners, circus performers, and other employees. The main stage states 'strange people.' The ticket podiums states 'freaks.' Overhead banners advertises 'direct from Iceland Viking Giant alive.' The Circus traveled to Vermont and set up at the Champlain Valley Exposition fairgrounds. 1940s-50s?
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- Title
- Circus People
- Description
-
Portrait photo of a lady of the circus standing outside a tent. Same lady as seen in mcalA09F08i05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10 and 11. May be 1940s-50s? at the Champlain Valley Fair.
- Title
- Circus People
- Description
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Portrait photo of a lady of the circus standing outside a tent wearing a large floral arrangement in her hair. Same lady as seen in mcalA09F08i05, 06, 07, 08, 09 and 10. May be 1940s-50s? at the Champlain Valley Fair.
- Title
- Circus People
- Description
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Portrait photo of a lady of the circus with flowers in her hair standing outside a tent. Same lady as seen in photos mcalA09F08i05 through 12. May be 1940s-50s at the Champlain Valley Fair.