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
Show less
Related Archival Collection
Pages
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
-
1944 portrait photo of a young boy standing on a stool dressed in church altar boy's vestment.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
-
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
-
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
-
1949 photo of two boys wearing boxing gloves and standing in front of a Christmas tree. Other toys include a train, train water tower, coloring book, children's tea set, stuffed animals, punching bag.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
-
1945 photo of a young boy seated on the floor with his Christmas toys and Christmas tree.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
-
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
-
1945 photo of two young boys (brothers?) seated in a living room on a hassock in front of a Christmas tree.
- Title
- Portraits - Children
- Description
-
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
-
1945 outdoor photo of a mother with twin sons.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
1944 indoor photo of five brothers and their parents. A wooden dog marionette seen behind hanging from one of the wall sconces.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
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
-
1945 indoor photo of five brothers and their parents (see also mcalB14F15i10). Wooden dog marionette hangs from a wall sconce to the left.
- Title
- Portraits - Family
- Description
-
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 - Individuals
- Description
-
1945 photo of a marsh landscape and a young boy on a raft in a pond. See another view in mcalB16F13i10.
- Title
- Portraits - Individuals
- Description
-
A woman in a riding outfit holds the reins of a horse. They stand in a field. A young boy also in riding clothes sits on the saddled horse. Dated 1958. Photo #2.
- Title
- Portraits - Individuals
- Description
-
A woman in a riding outfit holds the reins of a horse. They stand in a field. A young boy also in riding clothes sits on the saddled horse. Dated 1958. Photo #1.
- Title
- Portraits - Individuals
- Description
-
1945 photo of a marsh landscape and a young boy on a raft in a pond. See other views in mcalB16F13i10, mcalB16F13i14.
- Title
- Portraits - Individuals
- Description
-
1945 photo of a marsh landscape and a young boy on a raft in a pond.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
1957 or 1958 photo of what may be a high school vocational workshop class. Adult instructor stands to the far left while boys work the woodworking machines.
- Title
- Portraits - Unidentified Groups
- Description
-
1945 photo of 14 boys of varying ages, standing or seated in the street. Some have baseball mitts. Identity of the group, venue, and occasion are unknown. Behind is a house with a screened in front porch. Photo #2.