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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A large group of young people along with a few older adults gather at a rustic restaurant(?) for a special meal and event.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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A large group of young people and two older women gathered in a wood paneled, wood floor room for a photo portrait.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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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 and event.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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Portrait photo of a choral group of young men and women, possibly high school students with their director.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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A group of young men and women pose for a portrait in a rustic wood paneled room (perhaps a restaurant?) Two older women sit in front. Two paintings are on the wall; one of a barn and one of an outdoor scene. Photo #1.
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Mount Saint Mary's Academy school chorus. Back row, 6th in from the left possibly Therese Tessier (later Kneen), a student at the school 1961 (also member of the Cheering Squad). Photo #19.
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Three female and four male graduates assemble outside for a group portrait with another man (perhaps a teacher or school official). The graduates wear cap and gown with the tassel on the left side. They do not hold any diplomas.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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Ten young women relax in a common room lounging area reading magazines. A large portrait painting of a woman hangs on the wall.
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A uniformed group of young women carry small American flags and stand on the steps of the Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vermont. The troop's leader wears a different color cap, wears a cape and carries a small baton in her right hand. Undated but may be 1920s, 1930s.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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A large group of women graduates pose for a group portrait. They wear graduation robes and hold rolled diplomas. Some of the ladies also appear with a smaller group of women in mcalA15F07i05. Mount St. Mary's?
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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Uniformed (Catholic?) high school girls eat a meal at small cafeteria type lunch tables. High curtained windows are seen as well as a hard wood floor.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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Photo of six women graduates in graduation robes holding rolled diplomas. Two other ladies stand with them; one on each end. They all wear corsages and stand before a stage. Some of the ladies also appear with a larger group of women in mcalA15F07i06. Mount St. Mary's?
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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Portrait photo of a choral group of young men and women, possibly high school students with their director.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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Five uniformed (Catholic?) girls pose for a portrait with five young men dressed in suit and tie. See also mcalA15F07i32
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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A high school art class is in progress. Uniformed (Catholic?) female students shown working on their paintings; some are at their easels, others sit at a long wooden table. Their instructor looks on. Two paintings have a religious theme; one is a Madonna and Child and another is of the Last Supper.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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Church Youth Choir. Unidentified and undated. Photo #16
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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A uniformed group of young women with a single five point star on their caps carry small American flags and stand on the steps of the Memorial Auditorium in Burlington, Vermont. The troop's leader wears a different color cap but also carries a flag. Undated but may be 1920s or 1930s.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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A group of men and women, stylishly dressed in 1920s or 1930s fashion pose with a young women holding a bouquet of two dozen roses. They stand outside near the steps of a large brick building.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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A large group of young men and young women gather near dining tables in a wood paneled room for a photo portrait. The boys are assembled at the left and the girls to the right. A moose head hangs high on the back wall.
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- Portraits, groups, unidentified
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A group of young women gathered together are seen reading magazines or sorting through 45 rpm records in a large room. Radiator heaters are seen against the wall.