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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Photograph dated June 3, 1938, Original caption reads: Battery Park - WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project No. 65-12-344 This view shows the construction of the stone masonry parapet wall with the reinforced concrete caps. Note the first concrete cap being polished after removing the forms...
Show morePhotograph dated June 3, 1938, Original caption reads: Battery Park - WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project No. 65-12-344 This view shows the construction of the stone masonry parapet wall with the reinforced concrete caps. Note the first concrete cap being polished after removing the forms also the reinforced materials in the right foreground in reinforcing the caps also the special forms used in pouring the concrete caps.
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1938-1940 photograph of Battery Park. Original caption reads: WPA (Work Projects Administration) 65-12-344 View of the asphalt plant mix binder. Coarse on sidewalk and concrete base for parapet wall in Battery Park. Note excavation for concrete integral curb and gutter at right.
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1938-1940 photograph of Battery park prior to the start of the WPA (Work Projects Administration) project, looking south toward the observation platform. Note the piles of construction sand in road, the old light poles and the lack of the parapet wall along the walkway.
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1938 - 1940 photograph of Battery Park. Original caption reads: Battery Park - WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project No. 65-12-344 This view shows the 10' asphalt sidewalk after the base had been placed and rolled just prior to placing the finish coat; also the concrete footing to receive...
Show more1938 - 1940 photograph of Battery Park. Original caption reads: Battery Park - WPA (Work Projects Administration) Project No. 65-12-344 This view shows the 10' asphalt sidewalk after the base had been placed and rolled just prior to placing the finish coat; also the concrete footing to receive the stone masonry parapet wall. Note the old system of street light poles and the old pavement to the right. The look-off with Rock Point in the distance.
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- Description
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March 1, 1934. South Park at Hayward Street sewer project, Burlington, Vt. Men stand in a ditch with pick axes raised. A chain link fence runs across the path of the ditch. This picture shows a section of sewer trench leading to its junction with main leading from Shelburne Street where the flow...
Show moreMarch 1, 1934. South Park at Hayward Street sewer project, Burlington, Vt. Men stand in a ditch with pick axes raised. A chain link fence runs across the path of the ditch. This picture shows a section of sewer trench leading to its junction with main leading from Shelburne Street where the flow was diverted into new system. Done under P.W.A. sewer Docket No. 2353. Note heavy clay soil.
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- Description
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April 13, 1934. P.W.A. Sewer Project No. 2353. South Park. A section of Hayward Street sewer looking north and after backfill is nearing completion. Note wet condition of terrain which necessitated pumping during excavation preceding the laying of the tile and the addition of a 6" sand cushion...
Show moreApril 13, 1934. P.W.A. Sewer Project No. 2353. South Park. A section of Hayward Street sewer looking north and after backfill is nearing completion. Note wet condition of terrain which necessitated pumping during excavation preceding the laying of the tile and the addition of a 6" sand cushion under tile.
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- Title
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- Description
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March 1, 1934. South Park & Hayward Street sewer project P.W.A. Docket no. 2353, Burlington, Vt. View of the trench.
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- Burlington Streets: Hayward St. & Hayward St. Sewer
- Description
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April 13, 1934. P.W.A. Sewer Project Docket No. 2353. South Park. A section of Hayward Street sewer looking south showing manhole in center of section which was of unusual construction due to ravine intersection with sewer main.
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- Burlington Streets: Hayward St. & Hayward St. Sewer
- Description
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April 13, 1934. P.W.A. Sewer Project Docket No. 2353. South Park This view shows a section of Hayward Street Sewer looking north. Note unusual height of manhole construction occasioned by ravine intersecting sewer main at this point. This manhole was reinforced and protected on both sides by...
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View of new stone masonry lookout house on the pinnacle at Ethan Allen Park while under construction.
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November 22, 1938. Workmen operate steam rollers, dump trucks and other equipment as they construct an urban park.
- Title
- Parks
- Description
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November 22, 1938. Crew work on constructing an urban park. Seen is a truck with barrels and hose. Also a steam roller.
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- Parks
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July 27, 1938. Construction of an urban park. Work crew seen in the distance.
- Title
- Parks
- Description
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November 14, 1938. Work crew smooth out embankment during construction of an urban park.
- Title
- Parks (4X5)
- Description
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November 14, 1938. A workman grates the earth with a tractor. Houses line the area. Other workmen seen in the distance.