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
- First Congregational Church - Organizations
- Description
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Sunday School class in the dining hall of the First Congregational Church. Several dressed in their children's choir robes. Photo 8.
- Title
- May Crowning
- Description
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1947 portrait photo of children taking part in May Crowning, a Roman Catholic ritual. The girls are in best dresses, wear floral garlands in their hair and hold bouquets of daisies. The two boys stand in back dressed in white suit jacket and shorts.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
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1944 photo of a little boy seated in the living room with Christmas tree, wrapped presents and stuffed toys
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
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1949 / 1950 photo of two boys standing in a living room next to a Christmas tree. Presents are displayed and include toy trucks, cars, toy filing station. The brothers wear matching cowboy outfits.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
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1947 photo of two young boys in front of a Christmas tree surrounded by Christmas toys. Younger boy is seated on a rocking horse. His older brother stands beside him.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
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1946 or 1947 photo of a young boy on a tricycle with Christmas tree and other presents. A Red Arrow wooden sled is against the wall and a toy train with tracks beneath the tree.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
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1947 photo of two young children (boys?) seated on the floor in front of a Christmas tree surrounded by Christmas toys. Seen are a small train on tracks, a Bambi rocker, a wagon, plush toys, books and noise makers.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
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1944 photo of four young children and the family cat sitting outside on the cement steps of their white clapboard house.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
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1945 photo of two boys (brothers?) seated in a living room on a hassock with a Christmas decorated mantle on the fireplace behind. Four stockings hang from the mantle piece.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
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Another pose of 1944 portrait photo of a little boy sitting on a long coffee table holding a stuffed teddy bear toy.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
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1945 photo of a young boy in his home seated on a rocking horse with other toys and the family Christmas tree. A framed photo of a soldier is placed on the floor among the toys that include a soldier doll.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
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1944 indoor photo of couple and child seen in mcalB14F14i10, with additional family members from at least three generations present. See also mcalB14F14i10 for just infant with husband and wife.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
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1944 outdoor photo of young family--husband, wife, two sons, possibly twins, and a daughter holding a favorite cloth doll. See also mcalB14F15i01.
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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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
- Description
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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.
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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A group of young children work on making Halloween paper jack o'lantern pumpkins as they sit at tables in wooden spindle chairs. Two women stand in the back ready to assist and keeping an eye on the children's progress. Photo #12.
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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Undated portrait photo of women and children being part of May Crowning, a traditional Roman Catholic ritual that occurs in the month of May whereby an image or likeness of the Blessed Virgin is ceremonially crowned recognizing her as Queen of Heaven and the Mother of God. Women hold lilies and...
Show moreUndated portrait photo of women and children being part of May Crowning, a traditional Roman Catholic ritual that occurs in the month of May whereby an image or likeness of the Blessed Virgin is ceremonially crowned recognizing her as Queen of Heaven and the Mother of God. Women hold lilies and gladiolas, children hold bouquets of daisies. Some are dressed in robes with flower garlands in their hair.
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- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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Seven very young children are assembled on a living room couch for a group portrait. They each hold a toy and the little boy on the far left holds a real calico kitten. See also mcalA14F15i18 and mcalA14F15i20
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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A group of young children, perhaps kindergarten age, seen in their day care center (may be a church or nursery setting). They sit or stand with nearby tables, chairs, slide, sandbox and baby carriage. A woman stands in the back over seeing the boys and girls.
- Title
- Portraits, children, unidentified
- Description
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Sunday School for a group of children engaged in cutting construction paper and working on a project. Taken in a building on Orchard Terrace, known as "The Pilgrim House", purchased by the First Congregational Church for Sunday School use. House demolished in 1960s to make way for new addition to...
Show moreSunday School for a group of children engaged in cutting construction paper and working on a project. Taken in a building on Orchard Terrace, known as "The Pilgrim House", purchased by the First Congregational Church for Sunday School use. House demolished in 1960s to make way for new addition to the church. The children sit at tables. A woman leans over the children also helping with the cutting. The floor is carpeted, the blinds drawn at the two windows in the back. One little boy kneels near a doll house. Photo #9. See also mcalA14F16i31.
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