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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- Description
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December 3, 1936 View of upper Church Street while Street Department was removing snow after the 13 inch storm of previous night. The trucks are being loaded by hand. Photo published in Images of America Burlington on the front and back covers. Retail store signs including Preston's jewelers,...
Show moreDecember 3, 1936 View of upper Church Street while Street Department was removing snow after the 13 inch storm of previous night. The trucks are being loaded by hand. Photo published in Images of America Burlington on the front and back covers. Retail store signs including Preston's jewelers, Carl's Dinette, drug store can be seen. The church of the First Unitarian Univeralist Society with clock in center background.
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Church Street looking north from Bank Street toward the Unitarian Church, Burlington, Vermont - July, 1931. Trolley tracks can be seen running the length of the road but no overhead lines (not used since 1929). To the left foreground is Beebe Pharmacy at 75 Church (Mason Gaylord Beebe?) in the...
Show moreChurch Street looking north from Bank Street toward the Unitarian Church, Burlington, Vermont - July, 1931. Trolley tracks can be seen running the length of the road but no overhead lines (not used since 1929). To the left foreground is Beebe Pharmacy at 75 Church (Mason Gaylord Beebe?) in the Lambert building. Beebe will become Kelley's Pharmacy. Other retail stores seen. New Sherwood Hotel seen further up the street. Hotel burned in 1937. Name of McAllister's studio embossed in lower right along with type print label "Store No. 397 Burlington, Vt."
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- Description
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October 31, 1931. View looking south on South Winooski Ave. from Pearl Street. Trolley tracks still visible in the road bed but overhead cable are gone as the trolleys were no longer being used as of 1929. To the left is the First Congregational Church. To the right on the corner is Charles...
Show moreOctober 31, 1931. View looking south on South Winooski Ave. from Pearl Street. Trolley tracks still visible in the road bed but overhead cable are gone as the trolleys were no longer being used as of 1929. To the left is the First Congregational Church. To the right on the corner is Charles Bombard barber shop at No. 1 So. Winooski. Carl D. Densmore Co. sign for monumental work at 7 So. Winooski. Yandow Tire & Battery Co, Inc. at No. 11 - 15.
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- Description
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1951 / 1952 photo of 23 Church Street. Singer Sewing Machine Store, Burlington, Vt., before the construction of Irving's (ladies' ready-to-wear clothing store), which would later occupy the vacant lot at 19-21 Church St. To the left is People's Department Store. The Cathedral of the Immaculate...
Show more1951 / 1952 photo of 23 Church Street. Singer Sewing Machine Store, Burlington, Vt., before the construction of Irving's (ladies' ready-to-wear clothing store), which would later occupy the vacant lot at 19-21 Church St. To the left is People's Department Store. The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception can be seen in the distance.
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- Title
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- Date Created
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- Description
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1952 photo of 23 Church Street. Three quarter view of the Singer Sewing machine store, with the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in the background. Next to Singer is boarded up vacant lot, site of future Irving's.